In all these writ petitions, the one common question that arises for consideration is as to whether, without taking possession of the secured asset symbolically or actually by the bank in proceedings under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, the borrower or anybody aggrieved by the action of the bank can file an application/appeal under section 17 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002. The petitioners in these writ petitions are persons against whose properties, proceedings under Section 14 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 have been initiated. Their grievance is that the Debt Recovery Tribunal is not entertaining applications/appeals despite the Banks initiating action to take possession through the Magistrate, which is a measure under Section 13(4) of the Act. The Debt Recovery Tribunal themselves have issued a circular, which is produced as Ext. P5 in W.P(C) No. 17843/11, which reads thus:

"1. It is once again reiterated and brought to the notice of all conc