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2021 Supreme(Mad) 3179

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
J. NISHA BANU, J.
M/s.Asset Reconstruction Company (India) Ltd., rep. by its Authorized Officer – Appellant
Versus
V.Chola – Respondent
C.R.P(MD)No.554 of 2021 and C.M.P.(MD).No.2977 of 2021
Decided on : 06-10-2021

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : Mr.Veerakathiravan, Senior Counsel for Mr.M.V.Manibabu
For the Respondents: Mr.R.Suriyanarayanan, Mr.B.Rajesh Saravanan

Headnote:

Constitution of India,1950 – Article 227 – Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act,2002 -Section 5 – Loan – Property - Fraud or misrepresentation - Learned senior counsel for petitioner party submitted that third and fourth respondents, who started a partnership firm, had availed loan from respondent Bank during year 2003, for which they mortgaged two prime properties - After availing the said loan, third and fourth respondents failed to repay loan amount - Hence, respondent Bank declared loan as a Non Performing Asset (NPA) and initiated SARFAESI Act proceedings during year 2006 - In order to delay said proceedings, first and second respondents, who are son and daughters of third and fourth respondents, had filed a suit in O.S. for partition in respect of property mortgaged with Bank by adding the Bank also as one of defendants - As there was no interim order granted, respondent herein had filed a Writ Petition before this Court and this Court had granted an interim order subject to deposit of 25% of amount due to bank - Whether revision petitioner, who was not a party to suit, can seek for setting aside an order/judgment/award obtained by fraud or misrepresentation – Held, in this case, though there is an alternative remedy of appeal, considering the issue involved in this case and also considering the fact that respondents delayed process of auctioning about 10 years by abusing the process of Court and decree has been obtained by respondents 1 to 4 by collusion and suppression, and without impleading necessary parties and in order to avoid further delay, this Court is of view that interference of judgment and decree passed by Court below is required by exercising power of superintendence under Article 227 of the Constitution of India - It is stated by petitioner/company that since respondents did not pay any pie to petitioner company as directed by Tribunal, they confirmed sale in favor of one Prabhakaran and issued sale certificate - Act of the respondents 1 and 2 clearly shows that intention of respondents is only to drag on the process and not to settle the amount - As the decree had been obtained by suppression of fact and collusion, this Court is of view that submission of respondents about locus standi of petitioner need not be taken into account - In view, this Court is inclined to set aside judgment and decree passed by Court below - In the result, this Civil Revision Petition is allowed and judgment and decree passed in O.S. are set aside - Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

ORDER :

This Civil Revision Petition has been filed by the petitioner challenging the judgment and decree dated 28.06.2017 passed by the Principal District Court, Theni, in O.S.No.55 of 2006.

2. The learned senior counsel for the petitioner/3rd party submitted that the third and fourth respondents, who started a partnership firm by name M/s.Puppy's Grand Swim and Slim, had availed loan from the 5th respondent Bank during the year 2003, for which they mortgaged two prime properties at Veerapandi Village, Palanichettipatti, Theni District. After availing the said loan, the third and fourth respondents failed to repay the loan amount. Hence, the 5th respondent Bank declared the above loan as a Non Performing Asset (NPA) and initiated the SARFAESI Act proceedings during the year 2006. In order to delay the said proceedings, the first and second respondents, who are the son and daughters of the third and fourth respondents, had filed a suit in O.S.No.55 of 2006 for partition in respect of the property mortgaged with the Bank by adding the Bank also as one of the defendants. As there was no interim order granted, the 3rd respondent herein had filed a Writ Petition before this Court and this Court had granted an interim order subject to deposit of 25% of the amount due to the bank. On the very same day, without any jurisdiction, the first and second respondents had filed another suit in O.S.No.3 of 2007 on the file of the Subordinate Court, Madurai, seeking permanent injunction from bringing the properties for auction and obtained an interim order. Then, the 3rd respondent purposefully withdraw the said writ petition. During the pendency of the said suits, the Bank assigned the mortgaged properties in favour of the petitioner company on 31.03.2011. As per the said agreement, the petitioner company has become absolute owner of the said property. Having coming to know about the same, the third and fourth respondents approached the petitioner company and sent a proposal for OTS on 29.08.2016 and the same was also accepted by the petitioner company on 12.09.2016. However, they failed to honour the OTS proposal. In the said circumstances, the petitioner company once again initiated the proceedings under SARFAESI Act.

3. The learned senior counsel for the petitioner company would further submit that while so, on 17.03.2017, the suit in O.S.No.3 of 2007 was dismissed by the Court below on the ground of lack of jurisdiction and suppression of filing of the suit in O.S.No.55 of 2006 for partition. Thereafter, the respondents 1 to 4 in collusion with each other have filed a joint memo in O.S.No.55 of 2006 contending that the third and fourth respondents herein/defendants 1 and 2 have no objection in allotting 2/3rd share in favour of the respondents 1 and 2/plaintiffs in the suit. In collusion with the respondents 1 to 4, the 5th respondent/Bank also, without any authority, filed a memo on 21.06.2017 stating that since the value of the schedule properties have increased substantially, 1/3rd property value is sufficient to settle the loan due to the Bank. Based on the said memos, the Court below has decreed the suit in O.S.No.55 of 2007 on 28.06.2017. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner company has come up with this revision petition.

4. He would further submit that as the decree in O.S.No.55 of 2006 has been obtained by suppressing the factum of assignment of the properties in dispute in favour of the petitioner company and without impleading the petitioner company, the same is liable to be set aside. Even though the respondents 1 and 2 got the preliminary decree, they failed to take steps for final decree proceedings till date for the reasons best known to them. Since the decree in O.S.No.55 of 2006 does not bind the petitioner company, the petitioner company has issued a sale notice on 10.09.2020 by fixing the sale of the said properties. Challenging the said notice, the respondents 1 and 2 have filed S.A.No. 235 of 2020 before the Debt Recove

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