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2021 Supreme(Jhk) 449

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
RAJESH SHANKAR, J.
M/s. Steel Authority of India Limited – Petitioner
Versus
Punjab National Bank, through its Chief Manager, Bokaro – Respondent
W.P. (C) No. 3040 of 2021
Decided On : 23-09-2021

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioners: Mr. Indraji Sinha, Mr. Vijay Kant Dubey.
For the Respondents: Mr. Gyanendra Kumar, Mr. Rohit Ranjan Sinha.

Headnote:

Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 - Sections 14, 17 and 13(4) – Seeking quash order - hand over possession of land - statutory/efficacious remedy of preferring - Writ petition has been filed for quashing order passed by Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate, Bokaro-respondent no. 4 in SARFAESI Case further prayer that said respondent may be directed to hand over possession of land, appertaining to plot no. B-33, measuring an area of 2250 sq. ft. situated at City Centre, petitioner - respondent no. 4 has passed impugned order exercising power under Section 14 of Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 - There is another reason why impugned order should be set aside. If Respondent 1 had any tangible grievance against notice issued under Section 13(4) or action taken under Section 14, then she could have availed remedy by filing an application under Section 17(1) – Held, Borrower is always entitled to prefer an “appeal” under Section 17 after possession of secured asset is handed over to secured creditor - Section 13(4)(a) declares that secured creditor may take possession of secured assets - It does not specify whether such a possession is to be obtained directly by secured creditor or by 6 resorting to procedure under Section 14 – Court’s opinion that by whatever manner secured creditor obtains possession either through process contemplated under Section 14 or without resorting to such a process obtaining of possession of a secured asset is always a measure against which a remedy under Section 17 is available withdrawn vide order keeping in view pendency of application before Debts Recovery Tribunal, Ranchi present petitioner was also one of respondents in said writ petition - Writ petition dismissed.

ORDER :

1. This case is taken up through video conferencing.

2. The present writ petition has been filed for quashing the order dated 11th March, 2020 (Annexure-8 to the writ petition) passed by the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate, Bokaro-respondent no. 4 in SARFAESI Case No. 55 of 2018-19 with further prayer that the said respondent may be directed to hand over the possession of the land, appertaining to plot no. B-33, measuring an area of 2250 sq. ft. situated at City Centre, Sector-IV, Bokaro Steel City, Bokaro, to the petitioner.

3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent no. 1 submits that since the respondent no. 4 has passed the impugned order dated 11th March, 2020 exercising power under Section 14 of the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (hereinafter to be referred as the ‘SARFAESI Act’) the petitioner has statutory/efficacious remedy of preferring an application under Section 17 of the said Act.

4. Heard learned counsel for the parties on the issue of maintainability of the present writ petition.

5. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of United Bank of India vs. Satyawati Tondon and Others, (2010) 8 SCC 110, has held as under:

    “42. There is another reason why the impugned order should be set aside. If Respondent 1 had any tangible grievance against the notice issued under Section 13(4) or action taken under Section 14, then she could have availed remedy by filing an application under Section 17(1). The expression “any person” used in Section 17(1) is of wide import. It takes within its fold, not only the borrower but also the guarantor or any other person who may be affected by the action taken under Section 13(4) or Section 14. Both, the Tribunal and the Appellate Tribunal are empowered to pass interim orders under Sections 17 and 18 and are required to decide the matters within a fixed time schedule. It is thus evident that the remedies available to an aggrieved person under the SARFAESI Act are both expeditious and effective.”

6. Further, in the case of Standard Chartered Bank vs. Noble Kumar and Others, (2013) 9 SCC 620, the Hon’ble Apex Court has held as under:

    “27. The “appeal” under Section 17 is available to the borrower against any measure taken under Section 13(4). Taking possession of the secured asset is only one of the measures that can be taken by the secured creditor. Depending upon the nature of the secured asset and the terms and conditions of the security agreement, measures other than taking the possession of the secured asset are possible under Section 13(4). Alienating the asset either by lease or sale, etc. and appointing a person to manage the secured asset are some of those possible measures. On the other hand, Section 14 authorises the Magistrate only to take possession of the property and forward the asset along with the connected documents to the borrower (sic the secured creditor). Therefore, the borrower is always entitled to prefer an “appeal” under Section 17 after the possession of the secured asset is handed over to the secured creditor. Section 13(4)(a) declares that the secured creditor may take possession of the secured assets. It does not specify whether such a possession is to be obtained directly by the secured creditor or by 6 resorting to the procedure under Section 14. We are of the opinion that by whatever manner the secured creditor obtains possession either through the process contemplated under Section 14 or without resorting to such a process obtaining of the possession of a secured asset is always a measure against which a remedy under Section 17 is available.”

7. It may thus be construed from the aforesaid judgments that the proceeding under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act being consequential action of issuing notice under Section 13(4) of the said Act, the efficacious remedy is available to the aggrieved person under Section 17 of the said Act.

8. It is also submitted by the learned co

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