Gujarat High Court
Judgename :D.A.Mehta
BANK OF INDIA - Appellant
Versus
PANKAJ DILIPBHAI HAMNANI - Respondent
Special Civil Application 4077 Of 2007
Decided On : 04/14/2007
Whether District Magistrate can refuse to assist secured creditor from taking possession of securities?
Head Note :
(a) Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (Central Act 54 of 2002) - Sections 13 read with Section 14 - Obligation of District Magistrate to assist secured creditor in taking possession of secured assets - District Magistrate cannot raise objections or refuse to assist - Self contained code - Powers given to Tribunal - District Magistrate cannot usurp power of DRT - Impugned order of refusal set aside.
(b) Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (Central Act 54 of 2002) - Nature and scope - ExplainedHeld :
The authority who is called upon to act under Section 14 of the Securitisation Act can only assist, any, is bound to assist the secured creditor in taking possession of the secured asset. Any dispute between the parties regarding the secured asset raised before the Authority cannot be gone into by the Authority; the Authority has to relegate the aggrieved person to seek statutory remedy under the Securitisation Act after taking possession and handing over to the secured creditor. The Authority cannot be permitted to read anything beyond this is Section 14 of the Securitisation Act. [Para 9]
Respondent No. 3 District Magistrate has without realizing the limited scope of powers available under Section 14 of the Securitisation Act acted beyond the jurisdiction statutorily vested in the said Authority. Various observations made by the District Magistrate are not warranted in light of the limited powers available to the Authority under Section 14 of the Securitisation Act. The impugned Order dated 28.06.2006, therefore, cannot be permitted to stand and operate. Therefore, Order No. MAG. Vashi. 776 of 2006 dated 28.06.2006 (Annexure-B) is hereby quashed and set-aside and the proceedings restored to file of Respondent No. 3 District Magistrate and Collector, Vadodara. The application dated 30.09.2005 made by the petitioner-Bank shall stand revived and Respondent No. 3 is directed to pass an order in accordance with law for taking over possession and handing over the same to the petitioner-Bank. [Para 10]
Decided in Favour of :
Petitioner
Petition Allowed
( 1 ) IN light of the view that the Court is inclined to take, the petition is taken up for final hearing. RULE. The learned advocates appearing for the respective parties are directed to waive service.
( 2 ) THIS petition has been filed praying for the following reliefs:
"8. On the facts and circumstances mentioned hereinabove, the petitioner prays to Your Lordships that: be pleased to admit the present petition for final disposal at admission stage. Be pleased to issue a writ of certiorari or a writ in the nature of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction to quash and set aside the impugned judgment and order passed by the District Magistrate, vadodara -respondent No. 3 herein MAG. Vashi No. 776 of 2006 dated 28. 6. 2006 and to pass further order directing respondent no. 3 to pass fresh decision on the application under Section 14 of the Securitisation Act. Pending admission and final disposal of the petition, this Honourable Court may be pleased to direct respondent Nos. 1 and 2 to furnish some securities for dues of the bank before this Hon ble Court which may be deemed fit in the interest of justice and grant appropriate interim relief looking to the special facts and circumstances of the present case and nature of the petition. Such other and further relief that is just, fit and expedient in the facts and circumstances of the case may be granted. "
( 3 ) THE facts are not disputed at least in so far as the present proceedings are concerned. The petitioner-Bank advanced loan on 10. 11. 2000 to the tune of rs. 15,00,000/- to respondent Nos. 1 and 2. As the liability was not discharged and the outstanding dues had swelled to Rs. 17,65,501/-, on 28. 03. 2003 proceedings under the securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial assets and Enforcement of Security Interest act, 2002 (Securitisation Act) were initiated by issuance of notice under Section 13 (2) of the Securitisation Act by the petitioner-Bank. It is the say of the petitioner-Bank that on 14. 10. 2003 the petitioner-Bank sought to recover possession from the respondent nos. 1 and 2, but because of obstruction by the said respondents, on 30. 11. 2005 the petitioner moved District Magistrate and collector, Vadodara under Section 14 of the securitisation Act. On 28. 06. 2006, respondent no. 3. e. the District Magistrate and Collector, vadodara rejected the application under section 14 of the Securitisation Act. It is this order which has been challenged by the petitioner-Bank in this petition.
( 4 ) HEARD the learned advocates appearing on behalf of the respective parties. Section 14 of the Securitisation Act reads as under:
"14. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or district Magistrate to assist secured creditor in taking possession of secured asset. (1) where the possession of any secured assets is required to be taken by the secured creditor or if any of the secured assets is required to be sold or transferred by the secured creditor under the provisions of this act, the secured creditor may, for the purpose of taking possession or control of any such secured asset, request, in writing, the Chief metropolitan Magistrate or the District magistrate within whose jurisdiction any such secured asset or other documents relating thereto may be situated or found, to take possession thereof, and the Chief metropolitan Magistrate or, as the case may be, the District Magistrate shall, on such request being made to him- take possession of such asset and documents relating thereto; and forward such assets and documents to the secured creditor. (2) For the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of sub-section (1), the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of the district Magistrate may take or cause to be taken such steps and use, or cause to be used, such force, as may, in his opinion, be necessary. (3) No act of the Chief Metropolitan magistrate or the District Magistrate done in pursuance of this section shall be called in question in any c
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