The High Court may direct a statutory commission to dispose of a pending debt relief application within a stipulated timeframe, provided the application fulfills procedural requirements, to ensure timely adjudication of rights under debt relief legislation.

JUDGMENT

1. Petitioner availed agricultural loan of Rs.20,00,000/- from the Respondent Bank in the year 2016. In default of the repayment of the loan, the Bank has issued Ext.P2 Notice dated 31.03.2026 demanding payment of Rs.45,89,174.05. The case of the Petitioner is that since he is a “farmer” within the scope of the Kerala State Farmers’ Debt Relief Commission Act, 2006, he is entitled to get debt relief under the said Act. He has submitted Ext.P4 Application to the Respondent No.1/Commission claiming debt relief.

2. When the Writ Petition came up for consideration, the learned Counsel for the Petitioner sought direction to the Respondent No.1/Commission to dispose of Ext.P4 Application within a time frame.

3. The learned Standing Counsel for the Respondent/Bank objected to the entitlement of debt relief to the Petitioner, but submitted that the Bank has no objection to issuing direction to consider Ext.P4.

4. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of, directing the Respondent No.1/Commission to dispose of the Ext.P4 Application within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment, if the Ext.P4 Application is numbered by the Respondent No.1.