Become a member

Get the best offers and updates relating to Liberty Case News.

― Advertisement ―

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY AT INTYGRAT LAW OFFICES LLP

About the FirmIntygrat Law Offices LLP is a law firm engaged in litigation and advisory work across multiple legal domains. The firm provides...
HomeHigh CourtPatna High CourtM/S Maa Katyayni Mercantile Pvt. Ltd vs Indian Bank And Anr on...

M/S Maa Katyayni Mercantile Pvt. Ltd vs Indian Bank And Anr on 15 May, 2025

Patna High Court

M/S Maa Katyayni Mercantile Pvt. Ltd vs Indian Bank And Anr on 15 May, 2025

          IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                     Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.19818 of 2015
     ======================================================
     M/s Maa Katyayni Mercantile Pvt. Ltd. Son of Bhola Prasad Singh Resident
     of Mohalla 2/C, New Patliputra Colony, Param Vihar Apartment, P.S.
     Patliputra, Distt. Patna.
                                                                ... ... Petitioner/s
                                         Versus
1.    Indian Bank through its Branch Manager-cum-Assistant General Manager,
      Patna Main Branch, Biscomaun Building, Ground Floor, West Gandhi
      Maidan, Patna
2.    Presiding Officer, Debt Recovery Tribunal, 34, Bank Road, Opp. New
      Police Line, Lodipur, Patna.
                                                         ... ... Respondent/s
     ======================================================
     Appearance :
     For the Petitioner/s     :      Mr. Arbind Kumar Jha, Advocate
     For the Bank             :      Dr. Binod Kumar Jha, Advocate
                                     Mr. Devendra Prasad, Advocate
     ======================================================
     CORAM: HONOURABLE JUSTICE SMT. G. ANUPAMA CHAKRAVARTHY
                                   CAV JUDGMENT
                                   Date : 15-05-2025

                        1. The petitioner has filed the Writ

      petition for the following reliefs:

                                          " That the writ petition is
                        being filed or issuance of writ in the
                        nature of certiorari for quashing the
                        order dated 11.09.2015 passed by the
                        Ld. Presiding Officer, Debt Recovery
                        Tribunal,      Patna       which      was      passed
                        violating the provisions of the Recovery
                        of Debts Due to Banks and Financial
                        Institutions Act, 1993 and Rule made
                        there under and the order was passed is
                        without assigning the reasons though
                        the issues were raised and form part of
                        the       order     under        challenge.         The
 Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
                                          2/29




                          petitioner further prays for a direction
                          to Ld. Presiding Officer to record reason
                          in original order, as it can not be
                          compensated by the reason in the
                          appellate order.
                                            The petitioner further prays
                          for    issuance         of     writ    of   mandamus
                          restraining the respondents concerned
                          from proceeding further                     and giving
                          effect to order dated 11.9.2015 passed
                          in OA Case No. 178 of 2014 and the
                          Certificate issued U/s 19(22) of the DRT
                          Act, 1993.
                                            The petitioner further prays
                          for issuance of any other appropriate
                          writ/writs,            order/orders          and        or
                          direction/directions for which petitioner
                          may be found entitled."



                     2. The brief facts of the case culled out of

         the writ petition is that the petitioner, M/s Maa

         Katyayni Mercantile Pvt. Ltd., a private limited

         company registered under the Companies Act,

         1956, is engaged in business through loans from

         banks.       Initially,     the      business          was   run    as   a

         proprietorship under the name "Sai Enterprises" by

         Sanjay Kumar Singh, with two partners and nine
 Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
                                          3/29




         guarantors.

                     3. It is submitted in the Writ petition that

         the respondent bank granted a Cash Credit Facility

         of Rs.150 lakhs on 10.12.2008. Due to unforeseen

         circumstances, the account turned non-performing

         (NPA) and was classified as such on 31.12.2009.

         Sai Enterprises had received a work order worth

         Rs.1,09,98,000 from Vishal Builtech (India) Pvt. Ltd.

         for    supplying          stone      chips.      In    response,    the

         petitioner made the required supply, and a cheque

         dated 15.03.2008 for Rs.1,64,97,000 (cheque no.

         391622) was issued in its favour by Vishal Builtech.

         The cheque was submitted to the respondent bank,

         but no payment was made. The petitioner alleges

         that the bank refused to honor the cheque based

         on     undisclosed           advice       from        Vishal   Builtech,

         causing significant loss to the petitioner's business.

         No reason for non-payment was communicated by

         the bank. Subsequently, on the bank's advice, the

         proprietorship was restructured                        into    M/s Maa

         Katyayni Mercantile Pvt. Ltd. With no adjustment

         made for the cheque amount, the petitioner filed
 Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
                                          4/29




         CWJC No. 5515 of 2011. During proceedings, the

         Court sought clarification on paragraph 5 of the

         writ petition (CWJC No. 5515 of 2011), which

         detailed the cheque transaction. The bank, in its

         counter affidavit, denied receipt of the cheque and

         emphasized the absence of a deposit slip or any

         supporting          document.           It      suggested     that   the

         petitioner may have been informed of insufficient

         funds in Vishal Builtech's account, which showed a

         debit balance ranging from Rs.1.73 crores to

         Rs.1.66 crores during March 2008. The bank

         strongly          denied          any           misconduct.     In    a

         supplementary affidavit, the petitioner maintained

         that     the     cheque         was      deposited,     but     neither

         returned nor dishonored formally, and no reason

         for non-payment was provided. While the writ

         petition was pending, the bank filed two Original

         Applications (O.A. No. 177/2014 and O.A. No.

         178/2014) before the Debt Recovery Tribunal

         (DRT), Patna. Consequently, CWJC No. 5515 of

         2011 was disposed of on 23.06.2015 with liberty to

         the parties to raise all factual and legal issues
 Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
                                          5/29




         before the DRT.

                     4. In compliance, the petitioner submitted

         evidence before the Tribunal in support of its claim.

                     (i) Letter dated 28.2.2008 written by Vishal

         Builtech (India) Pvt.Ltd.

                     (ii)     Cheque          No.        15.3.2008     for     Rs.

         1,64,97,000/-           no.     "391622"          alongwith      deposit

         receipt.

                     (iii).    Fund      Book       Folio    No.    015      dated

         9.5.2008

(Annexure-4) maintained by respondent

bank.

(iv) Fund Book dated 23.5.2008 (Annexure-

4/A) showing hold value of Rs. 2,40,00,000/-.

5. It is submitted that the petitioner

produced undisputed evidence during the

proceedings of O.A. No. 178/2014. However, the

Tribunal recorded that the Cheque No. 391622 was

received by the Bank, but could not be realized

due to insufficient funds in the account of M/s

Vishal Builtech. It is further conceded by the

Learned Counsel for the Bank that the Bank is

holding Rs.2.4 crore of M/s Vishal Builtech.
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
6/29

6. It is submitted by the petitioner that this

statement is contradictory. On one hand, the Bank

claims the cheque was dishonoured due to

insufficient funds; on the other, it admits holding

Rs.2.4 crore of M/s Vishal Builtech. If the cheque

was dishonoured, it ought to have been returned

unpaid as per Section 138 of the Negotiable

Instruments Act, 1881, making the drawer liable.

However, no such record of dishonour or return of

cheque exists.

7. The Learned counsel for the petitioner

submitted that the Tribunal’s refusal to allow set-

off, as stated in Paragraph 11 of the judgment, is

unsupported by evidence and reads: “11. In this

case, the main dispute regarding set off of Rs.

1,64,97,000/-. In this respect, Ld. Counsel of

applicant bank has submitted that cheque no.

391622 has been received by bank and the

cheque could not be realized due to insufficient

fund in the account of M/s Vishal Builtech. Hence,

the stands taken by defendants is not tenable.

Since, the cheque amount has not been credited in
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
7/29

loan account, therefore, the question of set off

does not arise.”

8. It is submitted that this finding is

beyond the pleadings and amounts to an error of

fact apparent on the face of the record, thus

constituting a jurisdictional error.

9. It is further submitted by the Learned

counsel for the petitioner that the Tribunal’s

judgment is contrary to Rule 12(8), which

mandates that the provisions of Section 4 of the

Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891 shall apply. In

this regard, the Learned counsel for the petitioner

cited Section 4 of Banker”s Books of Evidence ,

which reads as follows:

“Mode of proof of entries in banker’s
book:

Subject to provisions of this Act, a
certified copy of any entry in banker’s book
shall, in all legal proceedings be received as
prima facie evidence of the existence of such
entry, and shall be admitted as evidence of
the matters, transactions, and accounts
therein recorded in every case where, and to
the same extent as, the original entry itself is
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
8/29

now by law admissible, but met further or
otherwise.”

10. It is further submitted that the certified

copy submitted by the Bank under Section 19(1)

showed a balance of Rs.2,59,67,919.27, yet the

Tribunal awarded Rs.6,37,57,097.64 — an amount

unsupported by evidence and contrary to Rule

12(8) read with Section 19(1) of the DRT Act, 1993.

11. The Learned counsel for the petitioner

submitted that the Tribunal failed to assign any

reason for awarding contractual interest and

ignored objections that interest must be governed

by Section 34 CPC, which permits only simple

interest. The petitioner raised the following issues:

(i) Charging of interest from date of cause of action

till date of filing of application, (ii) From date of

filing of application till date of certificate and (iii)

From the date of certificate till date of realization.

12. In support of the case of the

petitioner, the Learned counsel has relied on the

judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court

judgments, (I) Punjab & Sind Bank v. Allied
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
9/29

Beverage Co. Pvt. Ltd. [(2010) 10 SCC 640],

where the Apex Court, following Central Bank of

India v. Ravindra [(2002) 1 SCC 367], held that

pendente lite and post-decree interest is

discretionary under Section 34 CPC and must be

applied judicially, (2) C.K. Sasankan v.

Dhanlakshmi Bank Ltd. [(2009) 11 SCC 60],

where the Court examined Section 34 CPC and

Section 3 of the Interest Act, 1978, and held that

interest must be reasonable and aligned with the

prevailing bank rate.

13. It is submitted by the petitioner that in

these judgments, the Apex Court emphasized that

interest from the date of filing till realization is

within the court’s discretion and must be based on

legal principles. In Ravindra (supra), an interest

rate of 25% p.a. (pendente lite) and 19.4% p.a.

(post-decree) was deemed exorbitant and reduced

to 9% p.a. It was further submitted that both

Section 34 CPC and Section 3 of the Interest Act

empower courts to grant only simple interest and

do not authorize compound interest or interest on
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
10/29

interest.

14. The Learned counsel for the petitioner

submitted that despite clear legal principles, the

Tribunal passed the judgment dated 11.09.2015

(Annexure-5) in O.A. No. 178/2014 without

assigning proper reasons and based on no

admissible evidence. The findings are contrary to

law, beyond pleadings, and passed in excess of

jurisdiction. Left without any effective remedy, the

petitioner seeks intervention of this Hon’ble Court

to declare the impugned judgment void being

contrary to law and without jurisdiction.

15. A detailed counter affidavit was filed

by respondent Indian Bank. Per contra, it is averred

that the petitioner has made irresponsible and

maliciously false statements in the writ petition.

Therefore, the respondent bank most respectfully

submits that the instant writ application is not

maintainable, either on facts or in law.

16. It is further contended on behalf of the

respondent bank that the Hon’ble Apex Court, in a

catena of judgments, has held that a party seeking
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
11/29

the issuance of a high prerogative writ must first

exhaust all alternative remedies available under

the law before approaching the Hon’ble Court.

17. It is further contended on behalf of the

respondent Bank that in its judgment dated

26.07.2010 passed in the Civil Appeal No. 5990

of 2010 between United Bank of India vs

Satyawati Tondon and others (2010) 8 SCC

110, Hon’ble Apex Court has clarified and directed

in Para 55 as ” It is a matter of serious concern that

despite repeated pronouncement of this Court, the

High Courts continue to ignore the availability of

statutory remedies under the DRT Act and

SARFAESI Act and exercise jurisdiction under

Article 226 for passing orders serious adverse

impact on the right of banks and other financial

institutions to recover their dues. We hope and

trust that in future the High Courts will exercise

their discretion in such matters with greater

caution, care, and circumspection.”

18. In the case of Phoenix ARC Private

Limited vs. Vishwa Bharti Vidhya Mandir &
Patna High
Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
12/29

Others, Civil Appeal Nos. 257-259/2022, Hon’ble

Apex Court vide their judgement dated 12.01.2022

has held that High Court should not entertain

Petition when a remedy under SARFAESI Act is

available. It is further contended that Hon’ble

Supreme Court in the case of Mathew K.C.

reported in [(2018)3 SCC 85 after referring to

and/or considering their decision in the case of CIT

v. Chhabil Dass Agarwal, (2014) 1 SCC 603,

has observed, and held in paragraph 5 as under:

“5. We have considered the

submissions on behalf of the parties.

Normally this Court in exercise of jurisdiction

under Article 136 of the Constitution is loath

to interfere with an interim order passed in a

pending proceeding before the High Court,

except in special circumstances, to prevent

manifest injustice or abuse of the process of

the court. In the present case, the facts are

not in the discretionary jurisdiction under

Article 226 is not absolute but has to be

exercised judiciously in the given facts of a
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
13/29

case and in accordance with law. The normal

rule is that a writ petition under Article 226

of the Constitution ought not to be

entertained if alternate statutory remedies

are available, except in cases falling within

the well-defined exceptions as observed in

CIT v. Chhabil Dass Agarwal [CIT v. Chhabil

Dass Agarwal, (2014) 1 SCC 603], as follows:

(SCC p. 611, para 15)

“15. Thus, while it can be said that

this Court has recognised some exceptions to

the rule of alternative remedy i.e. where the

statutory authority has not acted in

accordance with the provisions of the

enactment in question, or in defiance of the

fundamental principles of judicial procedure,

or has resorted to invoke the provisions

which are repealed, or when an order has

been passed in total violation of the

principles of natural justice, the proposition

laid down in Thansingh Nathmal case

[Thansingh Nathmal v. Supt. of Taxes, AIR
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
14/29

1964 SC 1419], Titaghur Paper Mills case

[Titaghur Paper Mills Co. Ltd. v. State of

Orissa, (1983) 2 SCC 433] and other similar

judgments that the High Court will not

entertain a petition under Article 226 of the

Constitution if an effective alternative

remedy is available to the aggrieved person

or the statute under which the action

complained of has been taken itself contains

a mechanism for redressal of grievance still

holds the field. Therefore, when a statutory

forum is created by law for redressal of

grievances, a writ petition should not be

entertained ignoring the statutory

dispensation.”

19. The Learned counsel for the

respondent Bank has further submitted that in

Assistant collector Central Excise, Chandan

Nagar, west Bengal Vs Dunlop India Ltd. And

others reported in (1985) 1 SCC 260, the

Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that “Article 226

is not meant to short-circuit or circumvent
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
15/29

statutory procedures. It is only where statutory

remedies are entirely ill suited to meet the

demands of extraordinary situations, as for

instance where the very vires of the statute is in

question or where private or public wrongs are so

inextricably mixed up and the prevention of public

injury and the vindication of public justice require it

that recourse may be had to Article 226 of the

constitution. But then the Court must have good

and sufficient reason to bypass the alternative

remedy provided by the statute….”

20. The Learned counsel for the

respondent Bank further contended that the writ

petition has proceeded on misleading facts and

misconceived provisions of Banking laws and

practices and suffers from the vice of “Suppressio

Veri, Suggestio falsi” , hence the petitioner is not

entitled for grant of prayers made in the writ

petition.

21. The respondent Bank, in reply to para

4 of the writ petition, submitted that the

averments are incorrect. M/s Sai Enterprises was a
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
16/29

proprietorship firm (Proprietor: Sanjay Kumar

Singh) sanctioned a loan of Rs.30 lakhs on

18.05.2006, which was enhanced over time, the

last being Rs.150 lakhs on 22.02.2008. This loan

was repaid and closed on 07.10.2008, after which

the firm was converted into a partnership between

Ms. Meena Singh and Mr. Chandra Shekhar Singh.

A new OCC limit of Rs.150 lakhs was sanctioned on

07.10.2008. The account became NPA on

31.12.2009 due to non-compliance with repayment

terms, as per RBI guidelines.

22. Regarding para 5, the Bank submitted

that no copy of the alleged work order of

Rs.1,09,98,000/- was ever submitted or annexed

by the petitioner, hence, the claim is not accepted.

The letter dated 28.02.2008 (Annexure A-1) only

acknowledges receipt of material worth

Rs.1,64,97,000/-, with no mention of an enclosed

cheque. Also, the material rate and quantity

calculation is inconsistent with the claimed cheque

value, casting doubt on the authenticity of the

letter.

Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
17/29

23. In response to para 7, the Bank denied

having advised the petitioner to change the

structure of Sai Enterprises. In fact, M/s Katyayani

Mercantile Pvt. Ltd. was already a separate

registered company and sanctioned an OCC limit of

Rs.1.5 crore on 14.08.2008. Sai Enterprises

continued as a separate entity with its own limit.

24. As to para 8, the Bank submitted that

the cheque for Rs.1,64,97,000/- was returned

unpaid due to insufficient funds and could not be

credited. The claim of “no adjustment” is denied.

The court’s order dated 19.05.2011 did not direct

explanation of para 5; it merely granted time to file

a counter affidavit. In response to paras 9, 10, 12-

14, the Bank reiterated that the cheque was

dishonoured and returned. Another cheque (No.

391715 for Rs.72,50,000/-) was honoured and

credited to Sai Enterprises on 23.05.2008, showing

that non-payment of the disputed cheque was due

to insufficient funds, not mala fide intent.

25. The issue of cheque adjustment was

raised only in 2011, during restructuring proposals
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
18/29

and SARFAESI proceedings, and never during

earlier credit sanction or conversion phases,

suggesting it was an afterthought to avoid

repayment. Further, the disputed cheque was

unrelated to the loan account of M/s Katyayani

Mercantile Pvt. Ltd., which filed this writ.

26. It is submitted by the Learned counsel

of the respondent Bank that the petitioner never

pursued the cheque recovery with Vishal Builtech

(issuer), who remains the liable party. This

supports the Bank’s claim that the petitioner, in

collusion with the issuer, fabricated the claim to

frustrate recovery proceedings.

27. In para 11, the Bank noted that the

writ petition CWJC 5515 of 2011 was rightly

dismissed, as the petitioner had an alternative and

effective remedy under Section 17(1) of the

SARFAESI Act, as affirmed by the Hon’ble Supreme

Court in United Bank of India v. Satyawati Tandon

[(2010) 8 SCC 110].

28. In response to paras 15-18, the Bank

submitted that certified ledger copies and
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
19/29

contractual interest calculations, as per RBI

guidelines and the Bankers Books Evidence Act,

1891, were properly filed before the DRT. Hence,

the petitioner’s allegations lack merit, and the

judgment was delivered in accordance with law.

29. Regarding paras 19-24, the Bank

stated that the interest rate was granted under

Section 34 CPC, aligned with Supreme Court

judgments. Section 34(3) allows interest above 6%

in commercial transactions, up to the contractual

rate or the standard rate for commercial lending by

nationalized banks.

30. The Learned counsel for the

respondent Bank submitted that the DRT’s

judgment was passed lawfully, based on evidence

and the petitioner’s admission of availing and

using the loan.

31. The Learned counsel for the

respondent Bank lastly submitted that from the

facts and circumstances and as per the Judgment

of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the petitioner has

got an alternative and efficacious statutory remedy
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
20/29

to approach Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal

(DRAT) under Sec 18 of the SARFAESI Act. For

better appreciation of the case, Section 18 of the

SARFAESI Act is quoted here as under:

“18. Appeal to Appellate Tribunal.

(1) Any person aggrieved, by any

order made by the Debts Recovery Tribunal

1 [under section 17, may prefer an appeal

Along with such fee, as may be prescribed]

to the Appellate Tribunal within thirty days

from the date of receipt of the order of

Debts Recovery Tribunal.

2) [Provided that different fees may

be prescribed for filing An appeal by the

borrower or by the person other than the

borrower:]

3) [Provided further that no appeal

shall be entertained unless The borrower

has deposited with the Appellate Tribunal

fifty percent of the amount of debt due from

him, as claimed by the secured creditors or

determined by the Debts Recovery Tribunal,
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
21/29

whichever is less: Provided also that the

Appellate Tribunal may, for the reasons to

be recorded in writing, reduce the amount

to not less than twenty-five per cent of debt

referred to in the second proviso.]”

32. Heard the Learned counsel for the

petitioner as well as the Learned counsel for the

respondent Bank.

33. From the facts and circumstances of

the case it is pertinent to mention that the recently

Hon’ble Apex Court in Celir LLP Vs. Bafna

Motors (Mumbai) (P) Ltd. and Others, reported

in 2024(2) SCC 1 Para 97, 98, 110 have held as

under:-

“97. This Court has time and again,
reminded the High Courts that they should
not entertain petition under Article 226 of
the Constitution if an effective remedy is
available to the aggrieved person under the
provisions of the SARFAESI Act. This Court in
Satyawati Tondon [United Bank of India v.
Satyawati Tondon
, (2010) 8 SCC 110 :

(2010) 3 SCC (Civ) 260] made the following
observations : (SCC pp. 123 & 128, paras
43-45 & 55)
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
22/29

“43. Unfortunately, the High Court
[Satyawati Tondon v. State of U.P., 2009
SCC OnLine All 2608] overlooked the
settled law that the High Court will
ordinarily not entertain a petition under
Article 226 of the Constitution if an
effective remedy is available to the
aggrieved person and that this rule applies
with greater rigour in matters involving
recovery of taxes, cess, fees, other types of
public money and the dues of banks and
other financial institutions. In our view,
while dealing with the petitions involving
challenge to the action taken for recovery
of the public dues, etc. the High Court must
keep in mind that the legislations enacted
by Parliament and State Legislatures for
recovery of such dues are a code unto
themselves inasmuch as they not only
contain comprehensive procedure for
recovery of the dues but also envisage
constitution of quasi-judicial bodies for
redressal of the grievance of any aggrieved
person. Therefore, in all such cases, the
High Court must insist that before availing
remedy under Article 226 of the
Constitution, a person must exhaust the
remedies available under the relevant
statute.

Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
23/29

44. While expressing the aforesaid
view, we are conscious that the powers
conferred upon the High Court under Article
226
of the Constitution to issue to any
person or authority, including in appropriate
cases, any Government, directions, orders
or writs including the five prerogative writs
for the enforcement of any of the rights
conferred by Part III or for any other
purpose are very wide and there is no
express limitation on exercise of that power
but, at the same time, we cannot be
oblivious of the rules of self-imposed
restraint evolved by this Court, which every
High Court is bound to keep in view while
exercising power under Article 226 of the
Constitution.

45. It is true that the rule of
exhaustion of alternative remedy is a rule
of discretion and not one of compulsion, but
it is difficult to fathom any reason why the
High Court should entertain a petition filed
under Article 226 of the Constitution and
pass interim order ignoring the fact that the
petitioner can avail effective alternative
remedy by filing application, appeal,
revision, etc. and the particular legislation
contains a detailed mechanism for
redressal of his grievance.

Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
24/29

***

55. It is a matter of serious concern
that despite repeated pronouncement of
this Court, the High Courts continue to
ignore the availability of statutory remedies
under the DRT Act and the SARFAESI Act and
exercise jurisdiction under Article 226 for
passing orders which have serious adverse
impact on the right of banks and other
financial institutions to recover their dues.
We hope and trust that in future the High
Courts will exercise their discretion in such
matters with greater caution, care and
circumspection.

98. In CIT v. Chhabil Dass Agarwal
[CIT
v. Chhabil Dass Agarwal, (2014) 1 SCC
603] , this Court in para 15 made the
following observations : (SCC p. 611, para

15)
“15. Thus, while it can be said that
this Court has recognised some exceptions
to the rule of alternative remedy i.e. where
the statutory authority has not acted in
accordance with the provisions of the
enactment in question, or in defiance of the
fundamental principles of judicial
procedure, or has resorted to invoke the
provisions which are repealed, or when an
order has been passed in total violation of
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
25/29

the principles of natural justice, the
proposition laid down in Thansingh Nathmal
case [Thansingh Nathmal v. Supdt. of
Taxes
, 1964 SCC OnLine SC 13] , Titaghur
Paper Mills
case [Titaghur Paper Mills Co.
Ltd. v. State of Orissa
, (1983) 2 SCC 433 :

1983 SCC (Tax) 131] and other similar
judgments that the High Court will not
entertain a petition under Article 226 of the
Constitution if an effective alternative
remedy is available to the aggrieved person
or the statute under which the action
complained of has been taken itself
contains a mechanism for redressal of
grievance still holds the field. Therefore,
when a statutory forum is created by law
for redressal of grievances, a writ petition
should not be entertained ignoring the
statutory dispensation.”

110. We summarise our final
conclusion as under:

110.1. The High Court was not
justified in exercising its writ jurisdiction
under Article 226 of the Constitution more
particularly when the borrowers had
already availed the alternative remedy
available to them under Section 17 of the
SARFAESI Act.

110.2. The confirmation of sale by
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
26/29

the Bank under Rule 9(2) of the 2002 Rules
invests the successful auction-purchaser
with a vested right to obtain a certificate of
sale of the immovable property in the form
given in Appendix V to the Rules i.e. in
accordance with Rule 9(6) of the Security
Interest (Enforcement) Rules, 2002.

110.3. In accordance with the
unamended Section 13(8) of the SARFAESI
Act, the right of the borrower to redeem the
secured asset was available till the sale or
transfer of such secured asset. In other
words, the borrower’s right of redemption
did not stand terminated on the date of the
auction-sale of the secured asset itself and
remained alive till the transfer was
completed in favour of the auction-

purchaser, by registration of the sale
certificate and delivery of possession of the
secured asset. However, the amended
provisions of Section 13(8) of the SARFAESI
Act, make it clear that the right of the
borrower to redeem the secured asset
stands extinguished thereunder on the very
date of publication of the notice for public
auction under Rule 9(1) of the 2002 Rules.
In effect, the right of redemption available
to the borrower under the present statutory
regime is drastically curtailed and would be
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
27/29

available only till the date of publication of
the notice under Rule 9(1) of the 2002
Rules and not till the completion of the sale
or transfer of the secured asset in favour of
the auction-purchaser.

110.4. The Bank after having
confirmed the sale under Rule 9(2) of the
2002 Rules could not have withheld the
sale certificate under Rule 9(6) of the 2002
Rules, and entered into a private
arrangement with a borrower.

110.5. The High Court under
Article 226 of the Constitution could not
have applied equitable considerations to
overreach the outcome contemplated by
the statutory auction process prescribed
under the SARFAESI Act.

110.6. The two decisions of the
Telangana High Court in Concern Readymix
[Concern Readymix v. Corporation Bank
,
2018 SCC OnLine Hyd 783 : (2019) 3 ALD
384] and Amme Srisailam [Amme Srisailam
v. Union Bank of India
, 2022 SCC OnLine AP
3484] do not lay down the correct position
of law.
In the same way, the decision of the
Punjab and Haryana High Court in Pal Alloys
[Pal Alloys & Metal India (P) Ltd. v.
Allahabad Bank
, 2021 SCC OnLine P&H
2733] also does not lay down the correction
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
28/29

position of law.

110.7. The decision of the Andhra
Pradesh High Court in Sri Sai Annadhatha
Polymers [Sri Sai Annadhatha Polymers v.
Canara Bank
, 2018 SCC OnLine Hyd 178]
and the decision of the Telangana High
Court in K.V.V. Prasad Rao Gupta [K.V.V.
Prasad Rao Gupta v. SBI
, 2021 SCC OnLine
TS 328] lay down the correct position of law
while interpreting the amended Section
13(8)
of the SARFAESI Act.”

35. This case is squarely covered by the

aforementioned judgment.

36. Admittedly, the petitioner is aggrieved

by the order dated 11.09.2015 passed by Learned

Presiding Officer, Debt Recovery Tribnunal Patna in

O.A. No. 178/2014 determining the debt for

recovery of Bank’s and in accordance with the

provisions of the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks

and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 (51 of 1993)

and the rules made thereunder circumventing the

statutory provisions of appeal under Section 20 of

Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial

Institutions Act, 1993 as also under Section 18 of
Patna High Court CWJC No.19818 of 2015 dated15-05-2025
29/29

SARFAESI Act.

37. As stated supra, the Hon’ble Apex

Court has reminded that High Courts should not

entertain application under Article 226 of the

Constitution, if there is an effective remedy

available to the aggrieved persons under the

provisions of the SARFAESI Act. This Court is of the

considered opinion that the petitioner has an

effective alternative remedy of appeal and

therefore, the Writ petition itself is not

maintainable. However, the petitioners are at

liberty to pursue their remedies.

38. In result, Writ petition is dismissed as it

is devoid of merits.

39. Interlocutory Application(s), if any,

shall stand disposed of.

(G. Anupama Chakravarthy, J)
Spd/-

AFR/NAFR               NAFR
CAV DATE               04.04.2025
Uploading Date         15.05.2025
Transmission Date
 



Source link