IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
S.MANIKUMAR, SHAJI P.CHALY, JJ.
K.J. Binu – Appellant
Versus
The Secretary, Nedumangad Municipality – Respondent
RP No. 974 of 2020
Decided on : 28-05-2021
Constitution of India - Article 300A - SARFAESI Act, 2002 - Default to - Pay the loan - Instant review petition filed seeking to review the judgment of this Court in, by which, having found that there is no merit in the writ petition, the reliefs sought for by the petitioner were rejected and consequently, dismissed the same – Whether petition is maintainable – Held, To put it otherwise, the grounds raised by the petitioner would show that he is attributing illegality in the findings rendered in the judgment under review, which can only be seen as grounds for preferring appeal, and those grounds can never be treated as grounds for review of the judgment at all - Review petition dismissed.
ORDER :
S. Manikumar, J
Instant review petition is filed seeking to review the judgment of this Court in W.P.(C) No. 19984 of 2020 dated 25/09/2020, by which, having found that there is no merit in the writ petition, the reliefs sought for by the petitioner were rejected and consequently, dismissed the same. Said judgment reads thus:
44. Giving due consideration to the provisions of the SARFAESI Act, 2002, and the rules framed thereunder, we are of the view that the borrower, who had defaulted to pay the loan amount with interest for which, properties are brought for auction, is still the owner of the property and entitled to seek for enforcement of his rights, under the laws in force. Therefore, the 5th respondent, can seek enforcement of his property rights under Article 300A of the Constitution of India.”
2. W.P.(C) No.19984 of 2020 has been filed by the petitioner seeking for the following reliefs:
(a) Issue a writ of certiorari or any other writ, direction or order, quashing Exhibit-P4 ownership certificate dated 21.08.2020 issued by Nedumangad Municipality to the 5th respondent.
(b) Issue a declaration that Exhibit-P4 is null and void, as respondents 1 and 2, viz., The Secretary, Nedumangad Municipality, Thiruvananthapuram; and Nedumangad Municipality, represented by its Secretary, have no authority or jurisdiction to issue the same, in view of Exhibits-P2 and P3 notifications dated 26.10.2018 and 23.01.2020 respectively.
(c) Issue a further declaration that all the consequential and further official acts based on and relying on Exhibit-P4 ownership certificate dated 21.08.2020 are null, void and, without any basis.
3. Facts leading to the filing of this review petition are, petitioner, a Councilor of Nedumangad Municipality, has filed the writ petition seeking to quash Exhibit-P4 ownership certificate dated 21.08.2020, issued by the respondent Municipality to the 5th respondent in respect of a property, viz., Indraprastha Building. According to the petitioner, Exhibit-P4 was issued after initiation of recovery proceedings in respect of huge loan arrears against the property by the Industrial Financing Corporation of India Limited, and its authorised officer viz., respondents 7 and 8, for which, certain property was offered as security under the provisions of the SARFAESI Act, 2002.
4. Review petitioner has further stated that since notice regarding auction sale was published and notified in daily newspapers by the secured creditor, the 8th respondent, 5th respondent ceased to be the owner of the property and, therefore, he is not entitled to get an ownership certificate in respect of the said property, after the date of its publication, as contemplated under Section 13(8) of the SARFAESI Act, 2002.
5. Review petitioner has further stated that, Section 13(8) of the Act, 2002, makes it clear that further proceedings in the notified auction sale of the property need to be stayed, only if the borrower/owner of the property has tendered to the secured creditor, the amount due together with all the costs, charges and expenses, incurred by him, at any time before the date of publication of notice for public auction or inviting quotation or tender from public or private treaty for transfer by way of lease, assignment or sale of the secured asset. Since the 5th respondent has not complied with the above provision of the Act, the further proceedings pursuant to auction sale notification are to take place.
6. While dismissing the writ petition, this Court rejected the legal contentions putforth by the petitioner and held that secured creditor stands in the position of a receiver and if that be so, it is not open for the bank/ sec
M/s. Transcore v. Union of India and another [(2008) 1 SCC 125]
SupremeToday
The right of redemption under SARFAESI Act is extinguished after the issuance of a sale certificate, rendering claims by lessees during such proceedings legally unsustainable.
A secured creditor retains rights over a property until actual possession is transferred, despite a sale certificate being issued to an auction buyer, as affirmed by the court.
The ownership of a secured asset is retained until a sale certificate is issued, and the interim moratorium under the IBC prevents transfer of possession.
The bank retains the right to recover debts through mortgaged properties even if the borrower sells the property to a third party, as established under the SARFAESI Act, 2002.
Secured creditors must fully deliver the auctioned property and disclose material defects; failure to do so incurs liability for damages, including refunds with interest.
The court emphasized the legislative intent to minimize judicial intervention until the stage of Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act and highlighted the availability of statutory remedies under the Act, h....
Court ruled that non-compliance with SARFAESI rules voided sale; observed that the rights of borrowers can be waived through their conduct and failure to assert them timely.
The borrower's right of redemption is extinguished upon the publication of the auction notice, allowing the auction purchaser to claim possession.
Mandatory compliance with procedural requirements under the SARFAESI Act is essential; failure to adhere prejudices borrowers' rights and invalidates auction proceedings.
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