2026 Supreme(Online)(Kar) 4001
THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
Ashok S. Kinagi, J
Malathi R B – Appellant
Versus
Authorized Officer, Karnataka Bank Ltd. – Respondent
WP No. 12736 of 2025
Important Points
Subject
Civil - Banking and Finance
Act Referred
Headnote
(B) SARFAESI Act - Possession of Immovable Property - Notice issued in furtherance of Magistrate's order - Challenge to such notice must be preferred before the Debt Recovery Tribunal rather than via a writ petition. (Para 7)
Issues: Whether a writ petition challenging a possession notice under the SARFAESI Act is maintainable when a challenge is already pending before the Debt Recovery Tribunal.
For the Appellants/Petitioners: H. Pavana Chandra Shetty
For the Respondents: Divya Purandar
OF
RESIDING AT H NO 1402,
KARNATAKA
SMG ROAD, VIJAYANAGAR,
BANGARPET-563 114,
KOLAR DISTRICT.
…PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. H. PAVANA CHANDRA SHETTY (NOC), ADVOCATE)
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AND:
THE AUTHORIZED OFFICER
KARNATAKA BANK LTD.,
ASSET RECOVERY MANAGEMENT BRANCH,
KARNATAKA BANK BUILDING,
1ST FLOOR, WARD NO 29,
MARALUR EXTENSION,
SADASHIVANAGAR,
TUMKURU - 574 154
…RESPONDENT
(BY SMT. DIVYA PURANDAR, ADVOCATE FOR C/R IN CP
7421/25)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226
AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO
QUASH ANNEXURE-D ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT BANK VIZ,
NOTICE TO INTENDS TO TAKE PHYSICAL POSSESSION OF
IMMOVABLE PROPERTY UNDER SARFAESI ACT, DATED
16.04.2025 ARM B/RF/11/OR-14/25-26.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
*****
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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK S.KINAGI
ORAL ORDER
This Writ Petition is filed by the petitioner challenging
the notice dated 16.04.2025 issued by the respondent-Bank
vide Annexure-D intending to take the physical possession of
immovable property under the Securitisation and
Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of
Security Interest Act, 2002 (‘SARFAESI Act’ for short).
2. Brief facts, leading rise to the filing of this petition
are as follows:
2.1. The petitioners availed a housing loan of
Rs.12,15,000/- for constructing a residential house from
respondent-Bank. Further, the petitioners requested the
bank for one time settlement vide communication dated
09.08.2021, 31.01.2024 and 02.08.2024. However, the
respondent-Bank did not agree for one time settlement. The
respondent-Bank issued a notice dated 16.04.2025 intending
to take the physical possession of the immovable property
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pursuant to the order passed by the Principal Senior civil
Judge and CJM, Kolar in Crl. Misc. No. 30/2025 dated
22.03.2025. The petitioner aggrieved by the same, filed this
writ petition.
3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and
the respondent.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that,
the petitioners approached the respondent-Bank for one time
settlement; however, the respondent-Bank did not give an
opportunity for one time settlement. He submits that the
impugned notice is issued without issuing any demand notice
and complying the principles of natural justice. Hence, on
these grounds, prays to allow the petition.
6. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondent-
5Bank submits that, already the possession order has been
issued by the Trial Court and pursuant to it, the petitioners
have preferred an application before the Debt recovery
Tribunal and the same is pending. She submits that the bank
has already taken the physical possession of the property in
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pursuance of the order. She submits that the DRT has
already seized the matter and the present Petition is not
maintainable. Hence, on these grounds, prays to dismiss the
petition.
6. Perused the records and considered the
submissions of the learned counsel for the parties.
7. It is undisputed that the petitioner availed the
loan from the respondent-Bank and committed the default in
repayment of the same. The respondent-Bank initiated the
proceedings under the SARFAESI Act and issued the
impugned notice vide Annexure-D. However, it is pertinent
to note that the possession order has already been passed
by the Magistrate court in Crl. Mis. No. 30/2025 dated
22.03.2025 and subsequent to it, the same has been
challenged by the petitioners herein before the Debt
Recovery tribunal and the same is pending. Since the
impugned notice is issued in furtherance of the possession
order passed by the Magistrate in Crl. Misc. No.30/2025 and
the application filed by the petitioners challenging the same
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is pending before the DRT, the present writ petition is not
maintainable.
8. The petitioners ought to have questioned the
impugned notice before the Debt recovery Tribunal