Smt. Kanta Devi v. Arcil

$~25 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 10315/2025, CM APPL. 42850/2025 SMT. KANTA DEVI .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Manish Kr. P., Adv.

versus ARCIL .....Respondent Through:

Mr. Chetan Sharma, ASG with Ms. Avshreya Pratap Singh Rudy, SPC with Mr. Amit Gupta, Mr. R.V. Prabhat, Mr.

Vinay Yadav, Advs. for UOI

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KSHETARPAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARISH VAIDYANATHAN SHANKAR

O R D E R

% 25.07.2025 1.

The present Petition has been filed by the Petitioner under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of directions to Ld. Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi („DRAT‟) to adjudicate the Appeal No.430/2019 filed by the Petitioner.

2.

This Court has today, in a connected matter, being W.P.(C) 10595/2025 captioned, Mrs. Richa Goel & Anr. vs. Union Of India & Ors., passed the following order:

"1.

We have heard the learned ASG and learned counsel representing the Petitioner at length.

2.

The present Petition has been filed by the Petitioner seeking a limited prayer to issue directions to the Ld. Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi („DRAT‟) for expeditious disposal of the Appeal filed by the Petitioner.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

3.

On the last date of hearing, this Court had requested the learned ASG to assist the Court in the matter. 4.

Learned ASG appears before the Court today and very graciously submits that there are five Benches of DRAT located at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Allahabad and that the Chairpersons of these five Benches are holding Courts regularly. Learned ASG further submits that the post of Chairperson of DRAT, Mumbai is vacant since 07.03.2025 and that the additional charge of Chairperson of DRAT, Mumbai has been assigned to Chairperson of DRAT, Chennai.

5.

This Court has drawn the attention of the learned ASG to the fact that nearly 1600 cases are pending before DRAT, Delhi. 6.

Learned ASG submits that the Chairperson of DRAT, Delhi has put in his papers on 04.06.2025. However, learned ASG has assured the Court that the Chairperson of DRAT, Delhi is taking up the cases on regular basis and is attempting to dispose of the same expeditiously. Learned ASG also submits that efforts are also being made to appoint new Chairperson of DRAT, Delhi. 7.

In view of the aforesaid position and given the fact that nearly 1600 cases are pending, the Competent Authority is requested to examine the possibility of creating another Bench for expeditious disposal of the cases.

8.

The Competent Authority shall also explore the possibility of assigning certain cases to Chairpersons of the other Benches, where the pendency is less.

9.

The Chairperson of DRAT, Delhi is requested to make sincere endeavours for expeditious disposal of the Appeal filed by the Appellant.

10.

The Petition and applications, if any, are accordingly disposed of with the aforegoing directions."

3.

Learned counsel representing the Petitioner makes a limited prayer to give directions to the DRAT, New Delhi to take up the Appeal filed by the Petitioner on 30.07.2025 i.e. the date already fixed.

4.

Learned ASG appearing for Union of India assures the Court that the Chairperson of DRAT, Delhi will make sincere endeavours to take the Appeal filed by the Petitioner on 30.07.2025. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

5.

The Petition and applications, if any, are accordingly disposed of with the aforegoing directions.

ANIL KSHETARPAL, J.

HARISH VAIDYANATHAN SHANKAR, J.

JULY 25, 2025/jn/sh The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.