Section 15(4) of the SARFAESI Act provides that after taking over management, the secured creditor shall restore the management of the borrower's business upon realisation of debt in full. However, there is a proviso to Section 15(4). What does this proviso state?

Section 15(4) ordinarily requires the secured creditor to restore the management of the borrower's business to the borrower upon full realisation of the secured debt. However, the proviso (inserted by the 2016 Amendment Act) carves out an exception: if any secured creditor jointly with other secured creditors, or any ARC, financial institution, or assignee, has converted part of its debt into shares of the borrower company and thereby acquired controlling interest in the borrower company, such secured creditors shall not be liable to restore management to the borrower. This exception recognises that debt-to-equity conversion fundamentally changes the legal and commercial relationship.