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2023 Supreme(P&H) 2703

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
G.S. SANDHAWALIA, HARPREET KAUR JEEWAN, JJ.
Pardeep Kumar & Ors. – Petitioner
Versus
Magma Fincorp Ltd. & Ors. – Respondents
CWP NO. 6292 of 2023
Decided On : 24-03-2023

Advocates Appeared:
Mr. Saurav Kumar Manchanda, Advocate; For the Petitioners
Mr. Vijiyesh Malhotra, Advocate; For the Respondents

Headnote:(A) Constitution of India - Articles 226 and 227 - The Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 - Jurisdiction of Writ Court - The Writ Court should refrain from exercising jurisdiction where statutory remedies under the DRT Act are available, as highlighted in various precedents (paras 3, 5, 6).

(B) Alternative Remedy - The existence of an alternative statutory remedy under the DRT Act precludes the exercise of extraordinary jurisdiction of the High Court under Articles 226 and 227, emphasizing judicial restraint (paras 4, 7).

Facts of the case:
Petitioners sought to quash an order related to the auction of property due to outstanding dues of Rs. 38,37,792/- payable by them. The possession was taken on 28.02.2023, with the petitioners being able to approach the DRT for redress.

Findings of Court:
The court ruled that adequate statutory remedies exist and the petitioners should pursue them rather than utilize the writ jurisdiction (para 8).

Issues: Whether the Writ Court should intervene in light of available statutory remedies and whether this case falls into the extraordinary jurisdiction of the High Court.

Ratio Decidendi: The court firmly stated that the presence of a statutory remedy, such as approaching the DRT, necessitates dismissal of the writ petition, aligning with judicial precedent which upholds such restraint (para 8).

Result: Writ petition disposed of, relegating the petitioners to their alternative remedy.

Table of Content
1. writ petition filed for quashing possession order. (Para 1 , 2)
2. high court lacks jurisdiction due to alternative remedies. (Para 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7)
3. writ petition disposed, alternative remedy suggested. (Para 8)

JUDGMENT

G.S. Sandhawalia, J. (Oral) - The present writ petition has been filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India praying for quashing of the order dated 29.11.2022 (Annexure P-8) passed by the District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Yamuna Nagar.

2. It is not disputed that the possession has already been taken on 28.02.2023 in view of the fact that there were outstandings of Rs.38,37,792/- as on 13.07.2022 payable by the petitioners.

3. Keeping in view the above, we are of the considered opinion that it is not for the Writ Court to exercise its extra-ordinary writ jurisdiction under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, in view of the huge outstanding as the bank is only seeking to recover the same, especially keeping in view the law laid down in United Bank of India v. Satyawati Tondon & others , (2010) 8 SCC 110 . The principles laid down in the said case were also arising out of the proceedings of The Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (in short 2002' Act) and resultantly discussing the law in detail it was held that as under:-

    "27. It is a matter of serious concern that despite repeated pronouncement of this Court, the High Courts continue to ignore the availability of statutory remedies under the DRT Act and SARFAESI Act and exercise jurisdiction under Article 226 for passing orders which have serious adverse impact on the right of banks and other financial institutions to recover their dues. We hope and trust that in future the High Courts will exercise their discretion in such matters with greater caution, care and circumspection.

    28. Insofar as this case is concerned, we are convinced that the High Court was not at all justified in injuncting the appellant from taking action in furtherance of notice issued under Section 13(4) of the Act.

    29. In the result, the appeal is allowed and the impugned order is set aside. Since the respondent has not appeared to contest the appeal, the costs are made easy."

4. In Union Bank of India and another v. Panchanan Subudhi , (2010) 15 SCC 552 , the High Court had disposed of the writ petition by directing the petitioners to pay a sum of Rs.10 lakhs in installments for liquidating the dues of the appellant-Bank and proceedings were pending before the Debts Recovery Tribunal. During the pendency of the proceedings before the Tribunal, the Bank had issued notices under Section 13 (2) and 13 (4) of the Securitization and Re-construction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 and even the recovery amount had been quantified by the Tribunal. Resultantly, the High Court had been approached, which had directed that the amount be paid in installments. Thereafter, the appeal had been filed before the Apex Court, wherein it was held that there was no justification for the High Court to entertain the writ petition by ignoring the fact a statutory alternative remedy was available to the respondent under Section 17 of the SARFAESI Act. Section 17 reads as under:-

    "17. Application against measures to recover secured debts.-(1) Any person (including borrower), aggrieved by any of the measures referred to in sub-section (4) of section 13 taken by the secured creditor or his authorised officer under this Chapter, 1 [may make an application along with such fee, as may be prescribed,] to the Debts Recovery Tribunal having jurisdiction in the matter within fortyfive days from the date on which such measure had been taken:

    Provided that different fees may be prescribed for making the application by the borrower and the person other than the borrower.]

    Explanation.-For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the communication of the reasons to

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