Canara Bank vs State Of Karnataka on 10 April, 2026

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    Karnataka High Court

    Canara Bank vs State Of Karnataka on 10 April, 2026

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                                                          WP No. 14220 of 2024
    
    
                       HC-KAR
    
    
    
    
                       IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
    
                              DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026
    
                                               BEFORE
    
                        THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI
    
                            WRIT PETITION NO. 14220 OF 2024 (GM-DRT)
    
                       BETWEEN:
    
                       CANARA BANK,
                       HOSKOTE BRANCH,
                       WARD NO.6, KAVERI COMPLEX,
                       COLLEGE MAIN ROAD, M.V. EXTENSION,
                       HSAKOTE - 562 114.
                                                                 ...PETITIONER
                       (BY SRI. SHETTY VIGNESH SHIVARAM.,ADVOCATE)
    
                       AND:
    
                       1.   STATE OF KARNATAKA,
                            REPRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,
                            REVENUE DEPARTMENT,
    Digitally signed        ROOM NO.627, 6TH FLOOR, GATE-1,
    by SUVARNA T            M.S BUILDING , DR.B.R.AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
    Location: HIGH
    COURT OF                BENGALURU 560 001.
    KARNATAKA
    
                       2.   SUB REGISTRAR,
                            HOSAKOTE SUB REGISTRAR OFFICE,
                            HOSAKOTE, BENGALURU.
    
                       3.   ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER AND
                            COMPETENT AUTHORTY,
                            VINIVINK ORGANIZATION INVESTOR
                            CLAIMS ENQUIRY DIVISION, BENGALURU.
                            5TH FLOOR, VISHVESHWARAYYA KENDRA,
                            DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU 560 001.
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                                         WP No. 14220 of 2024
    
    
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    4.   UNDER SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT
         REVENUE DEPARTMENT (SPECIAL CELL)
         VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU 560 001.
    
    5.   STATE OF KARNATAKA,
         THROUGH HOSKOTE POLICE STATION,
         HOSKOTE KARNATAKA,
         REP. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER.
    
    6.   SMT. SARVAMANGALA,
         W/O SRI APPU RAO M.S.
         MAJOR IN AGE,
         R/A NO.22, SRI RAYARA NIVASA,
         ROY SINGH LAYOUT, HOSAKOTE,
         BENGALURU RURAL 562 114.
                                            ...RESPONDENTS
    (BY SRI.MAHANTESH SHETTAR.,AGA FOR R1,R2,R4 & R5;
        SRI.VEERESH BUDIHAL., ADVOCATE FOR R3;
        SRI.SWAROOP S., ADVOCATE FOR R6)
    
         THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF
    THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO A) DIRECTION
    SETTING ASIDE THE GAZETTE NOTIFICATION DATED
    15/03/2023 BEARING NO. E-RD 22 GRC 2022 ISSUED BY THE
    R4 IN SO FAR THE SCHEDULE PROPERTY IS CONCERNED
    (ANNEXURE-E) AND B) SETTING ASIDE THE DIRECTION DATED
    12/06/2023 BEARING NO. NGR/CR/01/2023-24 ISSUED BY
    THE R3 TO THE R2 IN SO FAR THE SCHEDULE PROPERTY IS
    CONCERNED (ANNEXURE-F) AND C) DIRECTION ON THE R2 TO
    REGISTER THE SALE CERTIFICATE DATED 30/03/2024
    BEARING REF. NO. RO/DEV/SC/SS/30032023 ISSUED BY THE
    PETITIONER IN FAVOUR OF R6 (ANNEXURE-B) AND D)
    DIRECTION ON THE JURISDICTIONAL POLICE TO ASSIST THE
    PETITIONER IN HANDOVER POSSESSION OF THE SCHEDULED
    PROPERTY TO THE AUCTION PURCHASER.
    
         THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR DICTATING
    JUDGMENT HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN
    AS UNDER:
    
    CORAM: HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI
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                                                   WP No. 14220 of 2024
    
    
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                               ORAL ORDER

    The present writ petition is filed by the petitioner/Canara

    Bank seeking the following prayer:

    SPONSORED

    “PRAYER
    WHEREFORE the Petitioner prays that this Hon’ble court
    may be pleased to:

    a) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari or any other
    appropriate writ or direction setting aside the gazette
    notification dated 15.03.2023 bearing No. E-RD 22 GRC
    2022 issued by the Respondent No.4 in so far the
    schedule property is concerned. (Annexure-E)

    b) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari or any other
    appropriate writ setting aside the direction dated
    12.06.2023 bearing No. NGR/CR/01/2023-24 issued by
    the Respondent No.3 to the Respondent No.2 in so far as
    the Schedule Property is concerned. (Annexure-F)

    c) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus or any other
    appropriate writ or direction on the Respondent No.2 to
    register the sale certificate dated 30.03.2024 bearing
    Ref.No.RO/DEV/SC/SS/30032023 issued by the
    Petitioner in favour of Respondent No.6. (Annexure-B)

    d) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus or any other
    appropriate writ or direction on the jurisdictional police
    to assist the Petitioner in handover possession of the
    scheduled property to the auction purchaser.

    e) Grant any other order or direction as may deem fit in
    the circumstances of the case.”

    2. The facts of the case are that one Late Shivakumar R

    had approached the petitioner/Bank for a housing loan in the

    year 2020 for an amount of Rs.2,32,00,000/- for construction

    of residential building. For the said housing loan, one

    Mr.Praveen Kumar S and one Smt. Varalakshmi S were the co-
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    borrowers and also Mr. Pawan Kumar, who is the co-borrower

    is also the legal heir of late Mr. Sivakumar. After considering

    the application of the borrowers, the petitioner/Bank sanctioned

    the housing loan facility of an amount of Rs.2,32,00,000/-.

    They have executed the housing loan agreement. The

    borrowers agreed to repay the said loan of Rs.2,32,00,000/-

    within 348 monthly instalments of Rs.1,83,015/-. The

    borrowers agreed to pay the interest on the loan amount at the

    rate of 8.70% p.a. compounded monthly interest from the date

    of grant of loan. On 27.03.2020, one Late Shivakumar R.,

    created mortgage of the property bearing No.1, Hoskote

    Municipal Khata No.6808/5517/2841/1 and PID No.23-17-86

    situated at Ramakrishna Road, 2nd cross, Sir M.V. Layout,

    Hosakote Town, Bangalore Rural District by executing

    Memorandum of Deposit of Title Deed, which was registered on

    27.04.2020 in the Office of the Sub-Registrar, Hoskote.

    3. After the borrowers executed the loan documents, the

    petitioner/Bank released the loan amount and permitted the

    borrowers to utilise the housing loan amount. When the

    borrowers failed to pay the amount, the account was classified
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    as Non-Performing Asset on 29.01.2022 in accordance with the

    directives/guidelines relating to asset classification issued by

    the Reserve Bank of India. The Bank issued notice under

    Section 13(2) of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of

    Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002

    (for short ‘SARFAESI Act‘) on 09.02.2022 and the same was

    received by the borrowers and guarantors. In spite of receipt of

    notices, they have neither liquidated their dues nor raised any

    objection. Then the Bank has issued a notice under Section

    13(4) of the SARFAESI Act dated 06.05.2022 and took symbolic

    possession of the property.

    4. Then the petitioner/Bank has filed a petition under

    Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act before the Chief Judicial

    Magistrate, Bangalore Rural and the Bank was allowed to take

    possession of the secured assets vide order dated 07.11.2022

    in C.Misc.No.1139/2022. Pursuant thereto, the Bank took

    physical possession of the property on 21.11.2022. The

    petitioner has simultaneously proceeded by filing

    O.A.No.1146/2023 before the Debts Recovery Tribunal-II,

    Bangalore under Section 19 of the RDB Act, 1993 and the same
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    is pending adjudication. Then the petitioner has issued the sale

    notices dated 21.07.2022, 04.11.2022, 30.11.2022,

    20.01.2023 and 18.04.2023 by fixing the sale on 29.08.2022,

    29.11.2022, 22.12.2022, 22.02.2023 and 24.05.2023

    respectively. However, the respective sales did not take place

    due to want of bidders. Another sale notice was issued on

    19.10.2023 fixing the sale on 23.11.2023. In the said sale, the

    scheduled property was sold on 23.11.2023 for an amount of

    Rs.7,10,66,000/- and the sale was confirmed.

    5. The borrowers and guarantors had filed

    WP.No.27699/2023 before this Court. Initially, a conditional

    interim stay was granted on 22.01.2024 subject to payment of

    Rs.50 lakhs on or before 22.02.2024. However, they did not

    comply with the interim order and withdrew the writ petition

    vide order dated 20.02.2024. It is stated that after emerging as

    the successful bidder, respondent No.6 had deposited the entire

    consideration of an amount of Rs.7,10,66,000/-. Accordingly,

    the sale certificate was issued on 30.03.2024 executed by the

    authorized officer of the bank in favour of respondent No.6.
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    6. The respondent No.6/auction purchaser gave a

    representation dated 05.04.2024 to respondent No.2 seeking

    registration of the sale certificate dated 30.03.2024. An

    endorsement dated 10.04.2024 was issued by respondent

    No.2, wherein the registration of the scheduled property was

    denied on the ground that respondent No.4 had issued a

    gazette notification dated 15.03.2023 inter alia prohibiting the

    registration of the scheduled property. Respondent No.3 on the

    basis of the said gazette notification had also issued a direction

    to respondent No.2 vide letter dated 12.06.2023 restricting the

    registration of the property. Subsequently, the petitioner tried

    to hand over the physical possession of the property to

    respondent No.6. However, the petitioner could not handover

    the possession due to the ruckus and commotion created by

    unruly elements/persons at the behest of the borrowers and

    guarantors at the scheduled property. The petitioner/Bank is

    aggrieved by the endorsement dated 10.04.2024, gazette

    notification dated 15.03.2023 and letter dated 12.06.2023.

    Assailing the same, the present writ petition is filed.
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    7. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner/Bank

    submits that the charge of the Bank under SARFAESI Act

    overrides any other charge under any other enactment. The

    mortgage which existed much earlier to the proceedings under

    the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial

    Establishments Act, 2004 (for short ‘KPIDFE Act‘) takes

    precedence. In view of the same, the gazette notification dated

    15.03.2023, letter dated 12.06.2023 and consequent

    endorsement dated 10.04.2024 restricting registration of the

    schedule property are unsustainable and liable to be set aside.

    It is submitted that the attachment under the KPIDFE Act would

    not have any priority over the actions of respondent No.3.

    Further, Section 26-E of the SARFAESI Act relates to the

    priority of secured creditors and stipulates that notwithstanding

    anything contained in any other law for the time being in force,

    after the restriction of a security interest, the debts due to any

    secured creditor shall be paid in priority over all other debts.

    The auction in favour of the auction purchaser by the secured

    creditor is free from all encumbrances. Hence, the Sub-

    registrar cannot refuse to register the sale certificate. It is

    stated that the SARFAESI Act being a Central Legislation has
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    precedence over the State Legislation such as KPIDFE Act. It is

    submitted that SARFAESI Act contains overriding clause under

    Section 35 which is clear that it prevails over any law overriding

    its provisions. Hence, on the pretext of attachment under

    KPIDFE Act, registration of sale certificate of respondent

    No.6/auction purchaser cannot be curtailed.

    8. It is submitted that this issue is fairly covered by the

    decisions of the Apex Court in case of Punjab National Bank

    Vs. Union of India and others1 and the learned counsel for

    the petitioner/Bank has also relied on the judgment in case of

    UCO Bank and another Vs. Dipak Debbarma and others

    arising out of SLP(Civil)Appeal No.11250/2016. He has also

    relied on another judgment of this Court in case of Bank of

    India Vs. The Secretary to the Government, Revenue

    Department arising out of WP.No.12038/2017 and held that

    the charge under SARFAESI Act overrides attachment under the

    KPIDFE Act. He had relied on the judgment of the High Court of

    Judicature at Bombay in case of SBICAP Ventures Ltd. Vs.

    Joint Director, Directorate of Enforcement (Bengaluru

    1
    2022 SCC OnLine SC 227

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    Zonal Office) & others arising out of WP.No.1360/2023. He

    had relied on paragraph No.24 which reads thus:

    “24. We are unable to see any provision of the PMLA
    that has, combined with the non obstante clause, an
    overriding charge that would defeat, efface or render
    subservient the rights of a secured creditor. It is even
    unclear whether the attachment by the PMLA
    constitutes a sovereign debt in a case like this. Even if
    it did, it would not prevail over the rights of a secured
    creditor claiming security under a contract. We are
    unable to see from the impugned order a single finding
    rendered after the due process of law that there is
    anything remotely untoward let alone illegal within the
    meaning of the PMLA in the Petitioner’s acquisition of
    rights over the flats in question, the project or the
    receivables. It is no argument to say that the PMLA
    proceedings are in the public interest. Every statute is
    in the public interest. But is it being suggested that the
    SWAMIH fund is not in the public interest, despite all
    that is known? SBICAP is not even made a party to the
    PMLA proceedings.”

    9. Learned counsel for the petitioner/Bank had relied on

    the judgment of the Apex Court in case of Solidaire India Ltd.

    Vs. Fairgrowth Financial Services Ltd. and others2. He had

    relied on paragraph No.11 which reads as follows:

    “11. We are in agreement with the aforesaid decision
    or the case, more so when we find that whenever the
    Legislature wishes to do so it makes appropriate
    provisions in the Act in that behalf. Mrs. Shiraz
    Rustomjee has drawn our attention to Section 34 of the
    Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial
    Institutions Act, 1993 wherein after giving an
    overriding effect to the 1993 Act it is specifically

    2
    (2001) 3 SCC 71

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    provided that the said Act will be in addition to and not
    in derogation of a number of other Acts including the
    1985 Act. Similarly under Section 32 of the 1985 Act
    the applicability of the Foreign Exchange Regulation
    Act and the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act is
    not excluded. It is clear that in the instant case there
    was no intention of the legislature to permit the 1985
    Act to apply, notwithstanding the fact that proceedings
    in respect of a company may be going on before the
    BIFR. The 1992 Act is to have an overriding effect
    notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in
    another Act.”

    10. Learned counsel had relied on the judgment of the

    High Court of Madras in case of Assistant Commissioner

    (CT) Vs. Indian Overseas Bank and Another3. He had

    relied on paragraph No.3 which reads thus:

    “3. There is, thus, no doubt that the rights of a secured
    creditor to realise secured debts due and payable by
    sale of assets over which security interest is created,
    would have priority over all debts and Government
    dues including revenues, taxes, cesses and rates due to
    the Central Government, State Government or Local
    Authority. This section introduced in the Central Act is
    with ”notwithstanding” clause and has come into force
    from September 1, 2016.”

    11. He had relied on the judgment of the Co-ordinate

    Bench of this Court in case of Sri.T.Bharathgowda Vs. State

    of Karnataka and Others arising out of WP.No.7872/2024

    dated 28.05.2024. He had relied on paragraph No.14 which

    reads thus:

    3

    2016 SCC OnLine Mad 10030

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    “14. Scores and scores of cases are filed before this
    Court where the Sub-Registrars refuse to register the
    documents – the documents could be sale certificates or
    documents creating charge over the property. The Sub-

    Registrars, on grounds that are not available to them,
    refuse to register the documents, sometimes on the
    score that the software in the Registration Department
    or the Sub-Registrar’s office is not made to be in tune
    with the necessities of registration of documents of the
    Banks and therefore, it is not registered and in certain
    cases, it is the statutory dues by the borrower or the
    holder of the document, which are not cleared and
    therefore, would not be registered. All these are reasons
    beyond the statute. Unless the Sub-Registrar notices
    any violation as obtaining under Rule 171 of the Rules,
    the Sub-Registrar does not have jurisdiction to refuse
    registration of a document. Therefore, it is necessary for
    the State Government to issue necessary circular in
    terms of Rule 171 of the Rules and the law laid down by
    the Apex Court in the judgment supra, so that every
    person who goes for registration of documents should
    not be denied registration except in accordance with the
    observations supra as acts of Sub-Registrars are driving
    every person who is denied registration to the doors of
    this Court unnecessarily and if the Sub-Registrar would
    not register a document, if it is found to be in tune with
    law, the delay in registration would be attributable only
    to those Sub-Registrars, who will be saddled with
    exemplary costs when such cases are brought before
    this Court seeking a direction for registration of a
    document.”

    12. Relying on these judgments, learned counsel for the

    petitioner/Bank submits that the secured creditor has first

    charge over the property and the provisions of the KPIDFE Act

    cannot have an overriding effect on the SARFAESI Act. Hence,

    it is submitted that the writ petition may be allowed and the

    Sub-registrar may be directed to register the sale certificate.

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    13. Learned counsel appearing for respondent

    No.3/competent authority submits that the dispute that is

    raised by the petitioner/Bank in the instant case is essentially

    regarding the two enactments i.e., SARFAESI Act and the

    Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial

    Establishments Act, 2004 (for short ‘KPIDFE Act‘). It is stated

    that the respondent No.3 is a competent authority appointed by

    the Government of Karnataka by exercising the powers

    conferred on it under the KPIDFE Act. The competent authority

    is entrusted with the function of curbing the unscrupulous

    activities of fraudulent financial establishment including its

    promoters, partners, directors, manager or employee

    responsible for the management of or the conduct of the

    business or affairs of the financial establishment which has

    fraudulently defaulted in the repayment of the deposits and has

    also been vested with a statutory duty of attaching the

    properties of the defaulters and realizing the money to disburse

    the same to the depositors. It is submitted that the KPIDFE Act

    is remedial and beneficial statute, intended to protect the

    depositors and preserve assets derived from, or connected

    with, defaulting financial establishments. The ad-interim

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    attachment by the competent authority operates to maintain

    the status quo and prevent alienation or creation of third party

    interests that would frustrate eventual recovery. A purposive

    interpretation therefore be adopted to give efficacy to these

    protective steps.

    14. It is submitted that the Government of Karnataka

    issued an order of ad-interim attachment by exercising its

    powers under Section 3(2) of the KPIDFE Act on 15.03.2023

    and in terms of Section 3(4) of the KPIDFE Act, the property

    stood vested in competent authority. The competent authority

    directed the jurisdictional Sub-registrar to restrain registration

    by virtue of communication dated 12.06.2023. It is submitted

    that the Apex Court in the case of National Spot Exchange

    Ltd. Vs. Union of India and others4, has upheld the

    preposition that secured creditors cannot claim priority over

    properties attached under a depositor-protection statute,

    holding that MPID Act overrides any such claim of priority in

    respect of properties attached thereunder. It is submitted that

    the Apex Court is dealing with Maharashtra Protection of

    4
    2025 INSC 694

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    Interest of Depositors Act and it is in pari materia with the

    KPIDFE Act in object and mechanism, depositor protection,

    attachment and vesting in the competent authority, supervision

    by the Special Court and equitable realization and distribution.

    It is submitted that in view of the same, attachment

    proceedings under the KPIDFE Act are not rendered void or

    inoperative merely because the security interest is created by

    the Bank.

    15. It is submitted that under Article 246 and the doctrine

    of pith and substance, the KPIDFE Act is referable to entries 64,

    65 of List II and entry 2, 11A, 13 and 46 of List III of the

    Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and is a valid

    exercise of State Legislative competence to curb fraudulent

    financial establishment and protect depositors. It is submitted

    that the SARFAESI Act enables expeditious recovery of Bank

    dues through enforcement of security interests, whereas

    KPIDFE is a public interest restitution regime for fraudulently

    mobilized deposits, treating SARFAESI as automatically

    overriding would enable encumbrances to become a ready

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    device to defeat depositor protection statutes, contrary to the

    Supreme Court’s recognition of their protective purpose.

    16. It is submitted that in the light of the judgment of the

    Hon’ble Supreme Court in National Spot Exchange Ltd.’s

    case referred supra, the said issue is no more res integra and

    the provisions of the KPIDFE Act which are pari materia with

    that of the MPID Act has an overriding effect on the SARFAESI

    Act. It is submitted that Section 26-E of the SARFAESI Act is

    considered in the above referred judgment and that argument

    is no more available to the petitioner. The judgment that is

    relied on by the petitioner/Bank in Punjab National Bank’s

    case referred supra will not apply to the facts of this case. It is

    submitted that in National Spot Exchange Ltd.‘s case

    referred supra, the Apex Court had examined the statute i.e.,

    MPID which is pari materia with the KPIDFE Act. This judgment

    is a direct judgment and other judgments which are relied on

    by the petitioner do not apply to this case.

    17. It is submitted that though a review petition is filed

    challenging the judgment in National Spot Exchange Ltd.’s

    case referred supra, mere filing and pendency of a review

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    petition cannot be a ground and still it has the binding force

    under Article 141 of the Constitution of India. Unless and until

    the Hon’ble Supreme Court stays the operation of the judgment

    or modifies/recalls it in review, the judgment continues to hold

    the field and must be given full effect. It is submitted that the

    Apex Court in case of Union Territory of Ladakh & Ors. Vs.

    Jammu and Kashmir National Conference & Ors.5 had held

    that pendency of a review cannot be treated as a good ground

    at the current stage to withhold implementation or to keep

    subordinate proceedings in abeyance. It is submitted that the

    writ petition is liable to be dismissed.

    18. In response to that, learned counsel appearing for the

    petitioner/Bank submits that as the review petition is pending

    against the judgement passed in National Spot Exchange

    Ltd.‘s case referred supra, the same cannot be applied at this

    point of time and in the light of the other judgments, the

    SARFAESI Act has an overriding effect on all other Acts and the

    writ petition has to be allowed.

    5
    2023 INSC 804

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    19. Learned counsel appearing for respondent No.6/

    auction purchaser submits that respondent No.6 has already

    filed another writ petition and sought for refund of the amount.

    20. Having heard the learned counsels on either side,

    perused the entire material on record. The admitted facts in

    this case are that the petitioner/Bank has initiated the

    SARFAESI proceedings and sold the property in favour of

    respondent No.6 and the Sub-registrar refused to register the

    sale certificate in view of the notification issued by the

    competent authority under the KPIDFE Act which made the

    petitioner to come before the Court. According to the learned

    counsel for the petitioner/Bank, the SARFAESI Act has an

    overriding effect and relied on certain judgments referred

    supra.

    21. Learned counsel appearing for respondent

    No.3/competent authority submits that in the light of the law

    laid by the Apex Court in case of National Spot Exchange

    Ltd.‘s case referred supra, the KPIDFE Act has an overriding

    effect on the SARFAESI Act. There is no dispute that the first

    charge is created by the Bank. In case of National Spot

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    Exchange Ltd.‘s case referred supra, the question that fell for

    consideration before the Apex Court is, whether the secured

    creditors would have priority of interest over the assets

    attached under the provisions of Prevention of Money

    Laundering Act, 2002, (PMLA) and Maharashtra Protection of

    Investors and Depositors Act, 1999 (MPID Act), by virtue of the

    provisions of SARFAESI Act and RDB Act, 1993? The Apex

    Court had referred to the objects and reasons of the relevant

    provisions of the statute. When it comes to the MPID Act, it is

    observed that the Act was enacted by the State of Maharashtra

    to protect the interests of depositors of the financial

    establishments and matters relating thereto. The Apex Court

    had considered Section 2(c) which defines “deposit”, Section

    2(d) which defines “Financial Establishments”, Section 3

    pertaining to “fraudulent default by a financial establishment”,

    Section 4 pertaining to “attachment of properties on default of

    return of deposits”, Section 7 pertaining to “powers of

    designated court regarding attachment” and Section 14 of the

    MPID Act for “overriding effect of the Act”. Then the Apex Court

    had considered various judgments and observed as follows:

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    “40. In view of the above position of law settled by the
    Constitution Bench, it is held that considering the pith
    and substance of the State and the Central Legislations
    in question, the Central Legislations i.e., SARFAESI Act
    or RDB Act cannot be permitted to prevail over the State
    Legislation i.e., MPID Act, merely because the Central
    Legislations are enacted by the Parliament. Since all
    these Acts have separate field of operations, provisions
    of SARFAESI Act or RDB Act cannot be permitted to
    override the provisions of MPID Act, which is a validly
    enacted State Legislation, otherwise it would
    tantamount to violation of federal structure doctrine
    envisaged in the Constitution. The respective legislative
    powers of the Union and the States are traceable to
    Articles 245 to 254 of the Constitution. The State qua
    the Constitution is Federal in structure, and independent
    in its exercise of legislative and executive power.

    Therefore, if provisions of SARFAESI Act or RDB Act are
    permitted to override the provisions of MPID Act, then
    the legislative powers of the State Legislature would be
    denuded which would tantamount to subverting the law
    enacted by the State Legislature.

    41. It is true that sometimes the overlapping of
    legislations enacted with regard to the matters relatable
    to different Entries in List-I and List-II in Seventh
    Schedule may occur, however in that case also as held
    by the Constitution Bench in State of West Bengal vs.
    Kesoram Industries Limited and Others13
    , though, the
    List-I has priority over List-III and List-II, and List-III
    has priority over List-II, the predominance of Union List
    would not prevent the State Legislature from dealing
    with any matter within List-II, even if it may
    incidentally affect any item in List-I. In the case at
    hand, the SARFAESI Act and RDB Act having been
    enacted by the Parliament for the subject matter falling
    in List-I and the MPID Act having been enacted by the
    State Legislature for the subject matter falling in List-II
    in the Seventh Schedule, the latter would prevail in the
    State of Maharashtra in respect of the specific subject
    matter for which the said Act was enacted, in view of
    Clause (3) of Article 246.

    42. It was next sought to be submitted by learned
    counsels appearing for the Secured Creditors that in
    view of Section 26E of the SARFAESI Act, the debts due
    to the Secured Creditor have to be paid in priority over
    all other debts and all revenues, taxes, cesses and other
    rates payable to the Central Government or State
    Government or local authority, and therefore, the
    security interest of the Secured Creditors in respect of

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    the properties attached under MPID Act should be given
    priority. We do not find any merit in the said
    submission. Apart from the fact that Section 26E has
    come into force with effect from 1st September, 2016, it
    gives right to the Secured Creditor, after the registration
    of security interest, to be paid in priority over all other
    debts and revenues, taxes etc. payable to the Central
    Government or State Government or local authority.

    43. In the instant case, the attachment of the properties
    over which the Secured Creditors is said to have
    security interest, have been attached under Section 4 of
    the MPID Act. Such properties are believed to have been
    acquired by the Financial Establishment i.e. NSEL either
    in its own name or in the name of other persons from
    out of deposits collected by the Financial Establishment.
    All such properties and assets of the Financial
    Establishment and the persons mentioned in the said
    provision, vest in the Competent Authority appointed by
    the Government, pending further orders from the
    Designated Court. Such monies or deposits of
    depositors/ investors, who have been allegedly
    defrauded by the Financial Establishment, and for the
    recovery of which the MPID Act has been enacted, could
    not be said to be a “debt” contemplated in Section 26E
    of the SARFAESI Act, and hence also the provisions of
    Section 26E could not be said to have been attracted to
    the facts of the case.

    44. In that view of the matter, it is held that no priority
    of interest can be claimed by the Secured Creditors
    against the properties attached under the MPID Act and
    that the provisions of MPID Act would override any
    claim for priority of interest by the Secured Creditors in
    respect of the properties which have been attached
    under the MPID Act.”

    22. In the light of the authoritative pronouncement of the

    judgment of the Apex Court in the above case, the MPID Act

    which is pari materia with that of the KPIDFE Act, the issue is

    no more res integra and the KPIDFE Act will have the priority

    over the SARFAESI Act. The second submission that the

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    judgment in National Spot Exchange Ltd.‘s case referred

    supra, a review petition is filed and the same cannot be

    considered has also no legs to stand. In that view of the

    matter, there cannot be any direction to the Sub-registrar to

    register the document. As far as respondent No.6/auction

    purchaser is concerned, he has already filed another writ

    petition. In that view of the matter, this Court is passing the

    following order:

    ORDER

    i. Accordingly, the writ petition is dismissed.

    ii. All I.As. in this petition shall stand closed.

    SD/-

    (LALITHA KANNEGANTI)
    JUDGE

    MEG
    List No.: 1 Sl No.: 9



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