Venugopal M.N v. Punjab National Bank, Rep. By Its Authorized Officer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

PRESENT:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.K.JAYASANKARAN NAMBIAR TUESDAY, THE 6TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2015/14TH ASWINA, 1937 WP(C).No. 30278 of 2015 (H) --------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S):

----------------------- VENUGOPAL M.N., AGED 45 YEARS, S/O.NARAYANAN POTTY, TC 19/1444(1), ELANGAM GARDENS, THAMALAM, POOJAPPURA (PO), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 012.

BY ADV. SRI.K.RAJESH KANNAN RESPONDENT(S):

------------------------- PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK, STATION ROAD BRANCH, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001, REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORIZED OFFICER BY ADVS. SRI.SANTHEEP ANKARATH, SC SRI.M.MOHAMED NAVAZ THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 06-10-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: msv/

WP(C).No. 30278 of 2015 (H) --------------------------------------- APPENDIX PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS ------------------------------------- P1 : TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE ISSUED BY THE ADVOCATE COMMISSIONER DTD. 12-6-2015.

RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS:

----------------------------------------- NIL //TRUE COPY// P.S.TO JUDGE Msv/

A.K.JAYASANKARAN NAMBIAR, J.

............................................................. ............................................................. Dated this the 6th day of October, 2015 J U D G M E N T The petitioner, who had availed of a loan from the respondent bank, defaulted in repayment of the same. Consequently, the respondent bank initiated proceedings under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, hereinafter referred to as the 'SARFAESI Act', to recover the loan amounts. Ext.P1 is the notice issued by the Advocate Commissioner. In the writ petition, the petitioner impugns the steps initiated by the respondent bank for recovery of the loan amounts.

2. I have heard the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner as also the learned Standing counsel for the respondent bank.

3. On a consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case and the submissions made across the bar, I note that, the sole prayer of the petitioner is to permit him to remit the balance amounts outstanding to the bank in easy instalments. Taking into account the plea of financial hardship raised by the petitioner, I dispose the writ petition with the following directions:-

(i) The total overdue amount in respect of the loan availed by the petitioner is stated to be Rs.2,50,000/- together with accrued interest from 01.02.2015. Accordingly, if the petitioner pays the aforesaid amount of Rs.2,50,000/- together with accrued interest in six equal and successive monthly instalments commencing from 20.10.2015, and continues to keep up the regular instalments as per the original loan schedule, the recovery steps initiated against the petitioner by the respondent bank shall be kept in abeyance.

(ii) It is made clear that, if the petitioner commits a default in respect of any of the instalments, he will lose the benefit of this judgment and the respondent bank will be free to continue the recovery proceedings against him from the stage at which they presently stand.

A.K.JAYASANKARAN NAMBIAR JUDGE mns