IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
SHREE CHANDRASHEKHAR, J.
Shanti Jaiswal -Petitioners
Versus
State Bank of India through Branch Manager, Ranchi -Respondents
W. P. (C) No. 1736 of 2010
Decided on : 10-9-2014
Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act - Auction Sale - Section 19(22), Section 25(a), Section 27(1), Section 31 - The court discussed the provisions of the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993, including the powers of the Recovery Officer, the limitations on challenging the certificate, and the authority of the Debt Recovery Tribunal. The court emphasized that the Recovery Officer cannot accept out-of-court settlements or one-time settlements, even if they comply with RBI guidelines. The court also highlighted the exclusive jurisdiction of the Debt Recovery Tribunal for adjudication and execution of debts, and the inability to interfere with confirmed auction sales.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioners, auction purchasers, challenged the order of the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal setting aside the auction sale of a property. The property was attached and auctioned due to outstanding dues to a bank. The respondents, including the Certificate Debtor and the bank, argued for the acceptance of a one-time settlement, which was refused by the Recovery Officer and the Debt Recovery Tribunal. The auction purchasers took possession of the property, but the auction sale was later set aside by the Appellate Tribunal.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the Recovery Officer and the Debt Recovery Tribunal were justified in refusing to accept the one-time settlement, as it exceeded their jurisdiction. The court emphasized the exclusive jurisdiction of the Debt Recovery Tribunal for adjudication and execution of debts, and the inability to interfere with confirmed auction sales. The court set aside the order of the Appellate Tribunal, allowing the writ petition filed by the auction purchasers.
Issues: The main issues revolved around the acceptance of a one-time settlement, the authority of the Recovery Officer and the Debt Recovery Tribunal, and the validity of setting aside a confirmed auction sale.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the Recovery Officer and the Debt Recovery Tribunal cannot accept out-of-court settlements or one-time settlements, even if they comply with RBI guidelines. The court emphasized the exclusive jurisdiction of the Debt Recovery Tribunal for adjudication and execution of debts, and the inability to interfere with confirmed auction sales.
Final Decision: The court set aside the order of the Appellate Tribunal, allowing the writ petition filed by the auction purchasers.
Aggrieved by order dated 10.12.2009 in Appeal No. 15 of 2008 passed by the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal, Kolkata, the petitioners, the auction purchasers have approached this Court.
2. The creditor Bank initially filed Mortgage Suit No. 21 of 1994 against M/s Auto Engineering through its sole proprietor Shri Jagdish Prasad Sahu and others in the Court of Sub Judge, Ranchi. Subsequently, the suit was transferred to Debt Recovery Tribunal, Patna and reregistered as P.T. No. 138 of 1998. The creditor and other respondents did not appear before the Debt Recovery Tribunal, Patna and an exparte order was passed in P.T. No. 138 of 1998. A certificate was drawn under Section 19 (22) of the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 for Rs. 13,13,573.27/along with interest @ 18.75% and cost thereon. The certificate issued by the Presiding Officer, Debt Recovery Tribunal, Patna in PT No. 138 of 1998 was received by the Recovery Officer on 12.03.2002. After the notification for Debt Recovery Tribunal, Ranchi was issued, the matter was transferred to Debt Recovery Tribunal, Ranchi and it was renumbered as R.P. No. 140 of 2002. In the proceeding of R.P. No. 140 of 2002 also, the Certificate Debtor did not appeared and therefore, the immovable property of Certificate Debtor was attached under Rule 48 of Second Schedule to the Income Tax Act, 1961 read with Section 25 (a) of the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993. Vide order dated 02.02.2005 sale of the attached property through public auction was ordered and vide order dated 15.03.2005 the certificate holder Bank was directed to submit the valuation report. On 09.05.2005 one Smt. Bina Singh (Respondent no. 5) appeared and filed her objection stating that she was owner in possession of the attached property which she acquired from legal heirs/successors of Smt. Santosh Saboo. She produced a copy of Agreement of Sale dated 14.08.2002 and Power of Attorney dated 14.08.2002 executed by Jagdish Prasad Saboo. Vide order dated 27.01.2006, the intervenor's prayer was rejected and thereafter the respondent Bank as well as Certificate Debtor appeared on 21.03.2006 and both filed separate applications for deferring the auction sale on the ground that the proposal for compromise was pending before the respondentBank. The Recovery Officer, Debt Recovery Tribunal, Ranchi rejected the application filed by the certificate debtor observing that the creditor Bank could not have compromised the matter when the decretal dues along with the interest was more than rupees 40 lakhs and the property was valued by the independent valuer at Rs. 27,25,000/. It was further observed by the Recovery Officer that when the bidders were willing to pay Rs. 27,27,000/or more it would be highly improper on the part of the Recovery Officer to permit compromise at a meagre sum of Rs. 9,95,767/. On 27.04.2006 the auction sale took place in which the petitioners were declared successful bidder and vide order dated 21.08.2006 the auction sale in favour of the petitioners was confirmed by the Recovery Officer, Debt Recovery Tribunal, Ranchi. The petitioner took possession of the property on 26.08.2006 and after renovating the property, leased out the same to one M/s Heritage Televentures Ltd. & B.P. Poddar Group and its Associates. In the meantime, the Judgment Debtor filed an application being M.A. No. 17 of 2006 before the Presiding Officer, Debt Recovery Tribunal, Ranchi which was dismissed holding that the Reserve Bank of India guidelines were not applicable because certificate was already issued. The Judgment Debtor had also moved an application being M.A. No. 28 of 2006 for setting aside exparte judgment dated 04.02.2002 passed in P.T. No. 138 of 1998 however, it was dismissed by the Debt Recovery Tribunal, Ranchi vide order dated 01.08.2006. The respondent nos. 2 and 3 challenged orders passed in M.A. No. 28 of 2006 and M.A. No. 17 of 2006 both dated 01.08.20
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