The Authorized Officer, v. The District Collector,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 16.07.2019 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MRS.VIJAYA K.TAHILRAMANI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M.DURAISWAMY W.P. No.20648 of 2019 The Authorized Officer, South Indian Bank, Regional Office No.43, Ground Floor, Hameedia Centre, Haddows Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-6.

.. Petitioner -vs1.The District Collector, Thiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

2.S.Gladson 3.G.Jayaseeli 4.I.Arthur James .. Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issue of Writ of Mandamus to direct the first respondent to dispose of the application dated 05.12.2017 filed under Section 14 of SARFAESI Act in respect of property situate at Door No.33/1 and 2, CSI School Street, Sekkadu Village, Poonamallee Taluk, Tiruvallur District belonging to the 4th respondent.

For Petitioner : Mr.M.L.Ganesh For Respondents : Mr.S.Kamalesh Kannan Government Advocate for respondent No.1

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by The Hon'ble Chief Justice) Mr.S.Kamalesh Kannan, learned Government Advocate, accepts notice on behalf of the first respondent.

2. This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner seeking a writ of mandamus directing the first respondent to pass an order on the application dated 05.12.2017 filed by the petitioner under Section 14 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (in short, 'SARFAESI Act').

3. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate appearing for the first respondent.

4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that though the application was filed by the petitioner on 05.12.2017, the first respondent-District Collector has not disposed of the same till date. He would submit that in view of the long pendency of the matter, the petitioner is not in a position to take possession of the property.

5. The learned Government Advocate submitted that the first respondent may be directed to dispose of the application dated 05.12.2017 filed by the petitioner under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act within a period of six weeks.

6. Having regard to the submission made by the learned counsel appearing on either side and taking note of the limited prayer sought for in this writ petition, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, we direct the first respondent to consider and pass orders on the application dated 05.12.2017 filed by the petitioner under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act, on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, after giving notice to all concerned.

7. With the above observation, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar(C/L) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar bbr

To The District Collector, Thiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

+1cc to Mr.M.L.Ganesh, Advocate, S.R.No.60323 +1cc to the Government Pleader, S.R.No.60260 W.P.No.20648 of 2019 VBA(CO) RRS(08/08/2019)