Hearing of HPC Paper Mills case deferred again at NCLT

Feb. 9: The fate of the two defunct HPC paper mills of Assam (Nagaon & Panchgram) was supposed to be decided at National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on 9 February, 2021. However, the matter for hearing at NCLT, Delhi on Tuesday was adjourned. The next date for hearing at NCLT was re-fixed on 12 February. This was informed by Manabendra Chakraborty, President of CPPWU (INTUC) & JACRU.

It needs mention here that the Industry and Commerce department of government of Assam on 10 September, 2020 wrote to Kuldeep Verma, Liquidator of HPCL seeking one month time for revival of the defunct HPC paper mills as the “state government is making sincere efforts and pursuing the matter with the central government for revival of the closed mills and clearance of all dues of employees and workers”.

Manabendra Chakraborty stated, ” As on today, no information was received on any formal proposal from the Government, If the Government is genuinely sincere about their commitment, the formal proposal of reviving the paper mills must reach the NCLT before the hearing. This is as per information received from our Advocate.”

Cachar Paper Mill and Nagaon Paper Mill run by Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited (HPCL) have been non-functional since 20 October 2015 and 13 March 2017 respectively. The employees of the two mills have not received salaries for the past 49 and 47 months.