IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Vibhu Bakhru, Amit Mahajan, JJ.
Neetu Saini Through Power of Attorney Holder Neeraj Saini – Appellant
Versus
Bajaj Finance Limited – Respondent
W.P.(C) 8684 of 2023 & CM Appl. 32875 of 2023 & CM Appl. 32876 of 2023
Decided On : 20-07-2023
SARFAESI Act - Property Seizure - Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 - Section 13(2), Section 13(4) - The court dismissed the petition seeking to de-seal the mortgaged property and set aside the impugned orders, as the petitioner failed to comply with the necessary conditions of making the pre-deposit despite sufficient time. The auction of the mortgaged property was conducted successfully, and the sale was confirmed.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner, widow of the original borrower, sought to de-seal the mortgaged property and set aside the impugned orders issued under the SARFAESI Act. The petitioner failed to comply with the necessary condition of making the pre-deposit despite sufficient time, and the auction of the mortgaged property was conducted successfully.
Finding of the Court:
The court found the petition without merit and dismissed it, imposing a cost of Rs.25,000/- on the petitioner.
Issues: Dispute over the enforcement of security interest under the SARFAESI Act, failure to comply with necessary conditions for appeal, and the successful auction of the mortgaged property.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the petitioner's failure to comply with the necessary condition of making the pre-deposit despite sufficient time rendered the petition insubstantial, and the enforcement of security interest by the respondent was justified under the SARFAESI Act.
Final Decision: The petition was dismissed, and a cost of Rs.25,000/- was imposed on the petitioner.
JUDGMENT
Vibhu Bakhru, J.
1. The petitioner has filed the present petition, inter alia, praying as under:
"a) To De-seal the subject property bearing All the part and parcel of nonagricultural property comprised in the bearing B-37, SF NDSE-II, New Delhi-110049, East-Road, West- Service Lane, North- Plot No. B-36, South-Plot no. B-38
b) To set aside/ quash the impugned order dated 14/11/2022 passed by the Ld. Presiding officer Tribunal Debt Recovery Tribunal-I, Delhi in TSA/266/2022
c) To set aside/ quash the impugned order dated 12/05/2023 passed by the Ld. Presiding officer, Debt Recovery Tribunal-I, Delhi in TSA/266/2022
d) To set aside/ quash the impugned order dated 15/02/2023 passed by the Hon'ble DRAT in Misc. Appeal No. 06/2023 arising out of T.S.A. No. 266/2022 (DRT-I, Delhi).
e) To stay the further actions of the respondent bank and maintain Status Quo against the property bearing All the part and parcel of nonagricultural property comprised in the bearing B-37, SF NDSE-II, New Delhi-110049, East- Road, West-Service Lane, North- Plot no.B-36, South-Plot no. B-38" till the disposal of this writ petition."
2. The petitioner is, essentially, aggrieved by the action taken by the respondent (hereafter `BFL') in terms of the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (hereafter `the SARFAESI Act'). The petitioner is the widow of the original borrower who had availed the financial assistance from the respondent company. The petitioner is also a co- borrower. The petitioner has filed this petition through her power of attorney holder.
3. There is no dispute that the original borrowers are indebted to the respondent. There is also no dispute that the property in question bearing the address, B-37, Second Floor, NDSE-II, New Delhi-110049 (hereafter `the mortgaged property') was mortgaged to the respondent as security for the financial assistance availed by the petitioner and her deceased husband.
4. Admittedly, on 14.04.2022, BFL had issued a notice under Section 13(2) of the SARFAESI Act, whereby it claimed an amount of Rs.2,64,00,988/- as outstanding and payable by the petitioner. The petitioner responded to the said notice by a letter dated 26.05.2022. It is stated that, thereafter, the petitioner executed the power of attorney in favour of Mr. Neeraj Saini, who has filed present petition on behalf of the petitioner. Thereafter, the petitioner filed yet another a reply to the notice under Section 13(2) of the SARFAESI Act on 27.07.2022. BFL responded to this reply as well.
5. Since the outstanding amount, as mentioned in the aforesaid notice dated 14.04.2022, was not discharged, BFL issued a Possession Notice dated 24.08.2022 under Section 13(4) of the SARFAESI Act for enforcement of its security interest in respect of the mortgaged property. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner preferred an application (TSA/266/2022) under Section 17 of the SARFAESI Act before the Debts Recovery Tribunal (hereafter `the DRT'). The petitioner also sought interim relief, inter alia, restraining BFL form taking possession of the mortgaged property. However, the learned DRT rejected the petitioner's prayer by an order dated 14.11.2022.
6. Aggrieved by the rejection of her prayer for interim relief, on 19.01.2023, the petitioner appealed the decision dated 14.11.2022 before the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (hereafter `the DRAT'). The petitioner's appeal was numbered as MA No.06/2023. In the meanwhile, BFL issued an e-auction notice dated 26.11.2022. The petitioner filed an application seeking stay of the said e-auction notice before the Learned DRT, which was dismissed by the order dated 29.12.2022. The said order has not been placed on record.
7. Before the DRAT, the petitioner sought time to make the necessary pre-deposit to maintain the said appeal, however, the petitioner had failed to do so.
8. The auction of the mortgaged property pursuant to the e-auction notice dated 26.1
AI
Failure to comply with necessary conditions for appeal under the SARFAESI Act can render a petition insubstantial, and the enforcement of security interest by the respondent may be justified under th....
Default in loan repayment obligations under the SARFAESI Act entitles the creditor to take possession of mortgaged properties under Section 13(4).
though existence of an alternative remedy is not an absolute bar to the maintainability of a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, but a writ petition can be entertained in exceptional....
Though existence of an alternative remedy is not an absolute bar to the maintainability of a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, but a writ petition can be entertained in exceptional....
Point of law: It is the solemn duty of the Court to apply the correct law without waiting for an objection to be raised by a party, especially when the law stands well settled. Any departure, if perm....
The SARFAESI Act provisions, including the enforcement of security interest, the rights of the borrower, the appeal process, and the non-maintainability of writ petitions against private financial in....
Writ petitions against SARFAESI proceedings are inadmissible given the availability of statutory remedies before the DRT.
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