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2023 Supreme(P&H) 2077

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
G.S. SANDHAWALIA, GURBIR SINGH, JJ.
M/s. Laxmi Pipes Ltd. – Petitioner
Versus
District Magistrate & Ors. – Respondents
CWP-7474 of 2023
Decided On : 08-05-2023

Advocates Appeared:
Mr.Aalok Jagga, Advocate; For the Petitioner
Mr.Anurag Jain, Advocate, for Respondent No.3-Bank.

Headnote:(A) Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 - Sections 13(4) and 14 - Constitutional challenge to possession notice issued under the Act dismissed as the petitioner has an alternate remedy under Section 17 of the Act. The petitioner was indicated as a going concern with substantial outstanding dues but failed to prove exceptional circumstances for bypassing statutory remedy. (Paras 1, 3, 7)

(B) Judicial Review - High Courts are not to exercise jurisdiction when there exists an alternate remedy unless extraordinary circumstances are demonstrated. (Paras 6, 8)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner challenged possession notice proceedings under the Act on grounds of pending Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process, claiming the firm is viable. The argument for exhausting alternative remedies failed to convince the court to intervene.

Findings of Court:
The court found the challenge to be premature and reaffirmed the necessity for the petitioner to pursue available legal remedies under the Act.

Issues: Whether the High Court should intervene in a matter where an alternate remedy exists under Section 17 of the Act.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that judicial intervention is limited to extraordinary situations, maintaining reliance on established precedents acknowledging the necessity for statutory routes to be followed.

Result: Petition dismissed and petitioner directed to pursue statutory remedy.

Table of Content
1. challenge to securitization proceedings. (Para 1)
2. jurisdiction and alternate remedy under the act. (Para 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7)
3. petitioner does not press the writ petition. (Para 3)
4. petitioner is relegated to alternate remedy. (Para 8)

JUDGMENT

G.S. Sandhawalia, J. (Oral)

Challenge in the present writ petition filed under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India has been made to the securitization proceedings including the possession notice dated 31.03.2023 (Annexure P-28) issued under Section 14 of the Securitization and Re-construction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (in short the 'Act').

2. The following order was passed on 17.04.2023:

    "Challenge has primarily been raised to Section 13(4) notice issued under the Securitization and Re-construction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (for short, the 'Act') on the ground that the company has been subjected to the proceedings for initiation of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process under the provisions of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016.

    A perusal of the paperbook would go on to show that the outstandings are of Rs.48,13,37,399.91 as on 31.07.2022 (Annexure P- 24). It is the own case of the petitioner that it is a going unit and it has also been pointed out that the grand total sale for the year 2023 is Rs.38,48,44,142/-. In our considered opinion, though the petitioner has an alternate remedy under Section 17 of the Act before the Tribunal, however, if the petitioner wishes to show its bona fides to settle the matter, it would be appropriate that a demand draft for a sum of Rs.10 crores in favour of the Registrar General of this Court be produced on the next date of hearing, since the proceedings under Section 14 of the Act has also been initiated and the Tehsildar is sitting at the door-steps.

    To come up for necessary compliance on 26.04.2023."

3. After arguing for some time, counsel for the petitioner does not press the present writ petition since apparently there is an alternative remedy available under Section 17 of the Act.

4. Section 17 of the Act provides a remedy to the person who is aggrieved under the measures taken under Section 13 (4) of the Act which have been time and again settled by the Apex Court and the view taken in United Bank of India v. Satyawati Tondon & others , (2010) 8 SCC 110 was followed. In Union Bank of India and another v. Panchanan Subudhi , (2010) 15 SCC 552 ; Kaniyalal Lalchand Sachdev and others v. State of Maharashtra and others , (2011) 2 SCC 782 ; G.M., Sri Siddeshwara Co- operative Bank Ltd. & another v. Sri Ikbal & others , 2013 (10) SCC 83 ; M/s Hindon Forge Pvt. Ltd. and another v. State of Uttar Pradesh through District Magistrate Ghaziabad and another, 2018 AIR SC 5383 and Authorized Officer, State Bank of Travancore & another v. Mathew K.C. , 2018 AIR (SC) 676 , the said view has been further reiterated.

5. Recently, the Apex Court, while dealing with notice of motion order passed by this Court whereby, the writ petition had been entertained against the securitization proceedings initiated and interim protection had been granted whereby loanees had been declared NPA contrary to the order dated 27.03.2023 passed by the Apex Court was a subject matter of consideration in SLP No. 17335 of 2022, Authorized Officer, Kotak Mahindra Bank v. Anil Kumar Malhotra and another. The Apex Court set aside the interim order and virtually directed that the petitioner to take recourse to alternative remedy by passing the following order:-

    "1. Leave granted.

    2. Heard learned counsel for the parties.

    3. This appeal takes exception to the judgment and order dated 17.01.2022 passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in CWP No. 873 of 2022.

    4. We are of the considered view that the High Court was not justified in passing the impugned judgment and order.

    5. The impugned judgment and order has the effect of scuttling the proceedings under the

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