M/S.Equitas Small Finance v. The District Collector Cum

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED 14.09.2018

CORAM

THE HON'BLE Mr. JUSTICE M.VENUGOPAL and THE HON'BLE Mrs. JUSTICE S.RAMATHILAGAM W.P.No.24178 of 2018 and W.M.P.No.28177 of 2018 M/s.Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd., having office at No.769, Spencer Plaza, Phase II, 4th Floor, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002, Rep. By its Legal Manager, Mr.D.Vimalan.

.. Petitioner Vs 1.The District Collector Cum District Magistrate, District Collector Office, Vellore District.

2.R.Meethi 3.Ramesh .. Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a WRIT OF MANDAMUS directing the District Collector cum District Magistrate, Vellore to expeditious disposal of the Application filed by the Petitioner bank under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act filed on 22.12.2016 in vide Ref.No.Na.Ka.C1/11372/ 2017 dated 06.07.2017 on merits within a time limit as may be fixed by this Court in a time bound manner of the said petition.

For Petitioner : Ms.R.Mahamandra Rajalakshmi for Mr.K.Govindarajan For 1st Respondent : Mr.J.Pothiraj Special Government Pleader

O R D E R

[Order of the Court was made by M.VENUGOPAL, J.] Heard the Learned Counsel for the Petitioner. Mr.J.Pothiraj, Learned Special Government Pleader takes notice for the 1st Respondent.

2.To avoid an avoidable delay, notice to the Respondents 2 and 3 is dispensed with. No counter is filed on behalf of the 1st Respondent.

3.According to the Petitioner, the Respondents 2 and 3 approached the Petitioner/Bank for a Secured Loan for their business requirements by mortgaging their property and at the request of the Respondents 2 and 3, they had granted financial assistance to them. As a matter of fact, the Respondents 2 and 3 had failed to make payment of the outstanding amount in respect of the financial assistance provided by the Petitioner/Bank. The loan account of the Respondents 2 and 3 was classified as 'Non Performing Assets'. A Statutory Notice under Section 13(2) of the SARFAESI Act, 2002 was issued on 25.08.2016 among other things calling upon the Respondents 2 and 3 to repay a sum of Rs.17,58,103/- as on 25.08.2016 for discharging their liabilities in full within 60 days from the date of statutory notice.

The Respondents 2 and 3 had neither responded nor paid the amount due to the Petitioner. Hence, the Petitioner has preferred an application dated 22.12.2017 under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002 before the 1st Respondent/ District Collector cum District Magistrate, Vellore District seeking to take actual possession of the secured assets from the Respondents 2 and 3.

4.It comes to be known that based on the application of the Petitioner dated 22.12.2017, the 1st Respondent/District Collector had addressed a communication in Ref.No.Na.Ka.C1/11372/2017, dated 06.07.2017 to the Revenue Divisional Officer, Ranipet with a request to inspect the subject property and after conducting enquiry and verifying Village Registers, the following details may be provided viz., (i) as on today who is in possession of the above property (ii) as per Village Revenue records details of the pattadars in respect of the above property (iii) whether the above property is under lease or rent and details in this regard and (iv) whether any case is pending before Debt Recovery Tribunal/Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal in this regard.

5.The main grievance of the Petitioner is that even though from the date of communication viz., 06.07.2017 addressed by the 1st Respondent/District Collector cum District Magistrate, Vellore to the Revenue Divisional Officer, Ranipet, there is no significant progression in the subject matter in issue, as on date the said application of the Petitioner dated 22.12.2017 is pending.

6.In view of the fact that the application of the Petitioner dated 22.12.2017 is pending on the file of the 1st Respondent/ District Collector cum District Magistrate, Vellore, at this stage, this Court, without delving deep into the merits of the matter and also not expressing any opinion about the subject matter in issue, simpliciter, directs the 1st Respondent to

dispose of the application of the Petitioner dated 22.12.2017 on merits within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

7.With the above direction, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS IX) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar Sgl To The District Collector Cum District Magistrate, District Collector Office, Vellore District.

+1cc to Mr.K.Govindarajan, Advocate, S.R.No.63667. +1cc to the Government Pleader, S.R.No.64136. W.P.No.24178 of 2018 SJ(CO) rrs 04/10/2018