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2023 Supreme(Guj) 605

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
A.S. SUPEHIA, J.
M/S AMIR TRADERS – Petitioner
Versus
AUTHORIZED OFFICER BANK OF BARODA – Respondent
Special Civil Application No. 3703 of 2023
Decided On : 01-03-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioners: B.S. PATEL, ASIFKHAN I. PATHAN.
For the Respondents: JAIMIN R. DAVE, BHASKAR SHARMA.

Headnote:

Suppression of Facts - Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act - Section 19 of RBD Act, Section 13(2) and 13(4) of SARFESI Act - The court discussed the provisions of the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993 and the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002. The court highlighted the interpretation of Section 13(8) of the SARFAESI Act and its application in the case. The court also emphasized the availability of alternative remedies under Section 18 of the SARFESI Act and the importance of exhausting statutory remedies before approaching the High Court.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioners sought to quash an order passed by the Debt Recovery Tribunal and a direction from the bank to handover the secured asset. The respondent no. 2 was declared the successful bidder for the secured asset, and the petitioners challenged the auction proceedings. The court found that the petitioners had not complied with the order to clear the dues and attempted to mislead the court.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the petitioners had not complied with the order to clear the dues and attempted to mislead the court. The court also emphasized the availability of alternative remedies under Section 18 of the SARFESI Act and the importance of exhausting statutory remedies before approaching the High Court.

Issues: The issues revolved around the compliance with the order to clear the dues, the validity of the auction proceedings, and the availability of alternative remedies under the SARFAESI Act.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the importance of complying with the order to clear the dues and highlighted the need to exhaust alternative remedies under the SARFAESI Act before approaching the High Court.

Final Decision: The writ petition was rejected with a cost of Rs.15,000, which was to be deposited before the Registry of the Court within two weeks.

ORDER :

1. Draft amendment tendered by learned Senior Advocate Mr.B.S.Patel is allowed in terms of draft. The same shall be carried out forthwith. The orders, along with the list tendered by learned Advocate Mr. Jaimin R Dave, who appears on caveat on behalf of respondent no. 2, are also ordered to be taken on record.

1.1 Rule. Learned advocates appearing for the respective respondents waive service of notice of rule. The writ petition is taken up for hearing today, since both the learned Advocates have argued at length.

2. In the present writ petition, which has been filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, the petitioners have prayed for quashing and setting aside the order dated 22.02.2023 passed in IA No. 704 of 2022 by the respondent no. 3-Debt Recovery Tribunal, Ahmedabad (DRT). Further, a prayer is made seeking a direction from the respondent no. 1-Bank to handover the secured asset i.e. the resident bungalow of the petitioners.

3. By way of the amended prayer, a further direction is sought against the respondent no. 2 not to transfer land, mortgage or transfer possession of the resident bungalow to any third party.

4. BRIEF FACTS:

4.1. The respondent no. 1-Bank of Baroda filed O.A. Application No. 777 of 2018 on 23.05.2018 before the respondent No. 3-Debt Recovery Tribunal-II, Ahmedabad (DRT) under Section 19 of the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993 (for short “the RBD Act”) for recovery of Rs.3,20,27,98.69 in respect of Cash Credit facility of Rs.3 Crore together with interest of 12.15% and penal interest of 2% till date of realization with cost and other relief. The same was disposed of by the judgment dated 30.11.2022 by directing the petitioners to clear the dues within a period of 30 days.

4.2. Thereafter, for the compliance of the judgment and order passed at Annexure-B to the petition, for recovery, the order has been sent to the Recovery Officer, DRT-II, Ahmedabad and R.C. No. 265 of 2022 has been given. The petitioners appeared before the Recovery Officer, DRTII, Ahmedabad. It is asserted that the petitioners have deposited entire dues with interest approximately of Rs.4.25 Crores.

4.3. The respondent no. 1-Bank also issued a notice to the petitioner on 17.12.2018 under Section 13(2) of the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (for short “the SARFESI Act”) for recovery of Rs.3,57,71,151.24. The respondent-bank, thereafter filed and application under section 13(4) of the SARFESI Act for getting the order under section 14 of the SARFESI Act. Thereafter, the petitioners challenged such action of the respondent No. 1 by filing Securitization Application No. 525 of 2019 before respondent No. 3-DRT-II, Ahmedabad. During the pendency of SA No. 525/2019, the petitioners have challenged the E-Auction published in Gujarat Samachar on 14.01.2020. The E-auction was fixed on 25.02.2020. It is the case of the petitioners that they have deposited Rs.1.25 Crores in the respondent no. 1-Bank Loan Account, therefore, respondent No. 3, DRT-II passed order in SA No. 525/2019 restraining the respondent-Bank from proceeding further under the SARFESI Act.

4.4. The petitioners preferred I.A. No. 330 of 2020 for production of valuation report of 2019-20 of the mortgaged property as well as relevant document of loan account statement. The said 1.A. No. 330/2020 is not decided by the respondent no. 3-DRT-II and is pending till today.

4.5. By the Order dated 07.03.2020, passed by the DRT-II in S.A No. 525 of 2019, the respondent-Bank was restrained from proceeding further under the SARFESI Act. It was recorded in the order that the petitioners had deposited an amount of Rs.1.25 crores.

4.6. It appears that the petitioners filed I.A No. 330 of 220 in S.A. No. 525/2019 seeking directions for production of the valuation report of the mortgage property and loan account statement.

4.7. The respondent no. 1-Bank has filed I.A. No. 672 of 2021 on 22.02.2021 for v

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