2010 Supreme(Mad) 2623
High Court of Judicature at Madras
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. TAMILVANAN
L. Ashok Chand & Others
Versus
Indian Bank Rep. by its Chief Manager, Chennai & Another
W.P. No. 39661 of 2005 & W.P. M.P. Nos. 42523 of 2005 & 372 of 2006
Decided On : 02-07-2010
For the Petitioners:C. Ravichandran, Advocate.
For the Respondents:C. Johnson, Advocate.
Headnote:A. SECURISTISATION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF FINANCIAL ASSETS ACT, 2002 - SECTION 13 -
Writ of certiorari against bank calling for the records of the second respondent pertaining to notice of delivery of possession, dated 30.08.2005 and consequential sale notice, dated 16.11.2005 and quash the same - Petitioners contended that principles of natural Justice was not followed by respondents, while invoking provisions of Section 13 - Explanation dated 22.01.2005 submitted by the petitioners for the notice sent under Section 13 (2) was not considered, and reasonable opportunity was not provided to petitioners. HELD, aforesaid grounds are legally not sustainable, due to availability of efficacious alternative remedy to petitioners -Impugned proceedings by bank upheld. (Para 12).
B. CONSTITUTION OF INDIA - ARTICLE 226 -
It Is a settled proposition of law that writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India Is not legally sustainable, If there Is efficacious alternative remedy available to the petitioners. In writ petition, petitioners have not disputed the fact that the respondent bank is a secured creditor and that the amount due and payable by the petitioners are not settled. Being secured creditor, respondent bank is entitled to take legal action, as per SARFAESI Act and also initiate proceeding through the Debts Recovery Tribunal (Para 10) - Also see SARFAESI Act.
Result: WP dismissed.
1. The writ petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution, seeking an order to issue a writ of certiorari, calling for the records of the second respondent pertaining to the possession notice, dated 30.08.2005 and the consequential sale notice, dated 16.11.2005 and quash the same.
2. According to the petitioners, the impugned order of the second respondent was passed invoking the provisions of Section 13 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (herein after referred to as SARFAESI ACT), however, the impugned possession notice, dated 30.08.2005 and subsequent sale notice, dated 16.11.2005 are totally illegal, arbitary and violative of principles of natural justice, hence, liable to be quashed.
3. The petitioners have further stated that they have submitted their explanation, dated 22.01.2005 to the notice sent under Section 13 (2) of SARFAESI Act, however, without considering the same, the impugned notice was issued, hence, the same is liable to be quashed. It is further contended that no valid mortgage has been created and a nonspeaking order was passed by the second respondent, without affording adequate opportunity to the petitioners and that the respondents have failed to give credence to the order of the Debt Recovery Tribunal, dated 03.01.2005 passed in I.A.No.406 of 2004, which was filed by the petitioner herein, seeking a direction to the respondent bank to return back the original documents, however, the same was rejected on the ground that the question involved was a question of fact and the same could be decided only after a full fledged trial is completed. In the writ petition, the petitioners have stated that there is no alternative remedy available to the petitioners.
4. It is not in dispute that the petitioners are the guarantors for the loan obtained from the Indian Bank by the principal debtor. It is a settled proposition of law that the liability of the guarantors are joint and several and co-extensive, as that of the principal borrower.
5. Mr.C.Johnson, learned counsel appearing for the respondents submitted that the writ petition is not legally maintainable, in view of the SARFAESI Act and Debts Recovery Tribunal Act as efficacious alternative remedy is available to the petitioners. Learned counsel appearing for the respondents further contended that there is no illegality in the impugned notices sent by the respondents, being secured creditor, a Nationalised Bank. As it is a legal action, being taken by the respondents, it is not open to the petitioners to challenge the same by way of filing the writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.
6. In support of his contention, the learned counsel appearing for the respondents submitted the decisions in Transcore vs. Union of India & Anr., reported in I (2007) BC 33 (SC) and Mardia Chemicals Ltd., and Ors., vs. Union of India and Ors., reported in 2004 (4) SCC 311.
7. In Transcore vs. Union of India & Anr., reported in I (2007) BC 33 (SC), the Honble Supreme Court has held that withdrawal of O.A., pending before the Debt Recovery Tribunal, under Debt Recovery Tribunal Act cannot be a pre-condition for taking recourse to Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act and it is for the bank or financial institution to exercise its discretion. It has been made clear by the Honble Apex Court that the enactment of Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act is not derogation of the Debt Recovery Tribunal Act.
8. As contended by the learned counsel appearing for the respondents, withdrawal of O.A. in terms of the first proviso to Section 19 (1) of the DRT Act, 1983 (inserted by the Amending Act No.30 of 2004) is not a condition precedent for taking recourse to the SARFAESI Act.
9. The writ petitioners herein have raised the following points:
(1) The second r