18Suits and legal proceedings, not to be commenced or proceeded with

(1) On and from the date on which the Tribunal is constituted, no suit or other legal proceeding shall be commenced, or if pending at the date of such constitution, shall be proceeded with, against the old company except with the leave of the Tribunal and subject to such terms as the Tribunal may impose.

(2) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the Tribunal shall have, and no court or other tribunal shall have, jurisdiction to entertain or dispose of--

(a) any suit or proceeding by, or on behalf of, or against, the old company;

(b) any claim made by, or on behalf of, or against, the old company;

(c) any question of priorities and any other question whatsoever, whether of law or of fact, which may relate to, or arise in relation to, the genuineness or otherwise of, any share or in relation to any rights or obligations under such share, whether such suit or proceeding has been instituted, or is instituted, or such claim or question has arisen or arises before or after the constitution of the Tribunal.

(3) If, on the appointed day, any suit, appeal or other proceeding of whatever nature by or against the old company in relation to any business of that company is pending in any court, such suit, appeal or other proceeding shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any contract, stand transferred to, and shall be disposed of by, the Tribunal and thereupon no other court or tribunal shall have jurisdiction to try such suit, appeal or proceeding.

Explanation.--A suit or other proceeding relating to the title to, or claim in or in relation to, any share or any document purporting to be a share shall be deemed to be a suit or other proceeding relating to the business of the old company.

(4) Nothing in sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) shall apply to any petition or appeal arising out of any petition made under article 32, article 226 or article 227 of the Constitution.