Jahida Sikni Factory v. Punjab National Bank Rep. by its Senior Manager Cum Authorized Officer
2022-12-15
R.M.CHHAYA, SOUMITRA SAIKIA
body2022
DigiLaw.ai
JUDGMENT : R.M. CHHAYA, J. 1. Heard Mr. M.A. Sheikh, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. A. Ganguly, learned counsel for the respondent bank. 2. By way of this petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has prayed for the following relief: “Under the above facts and circumstances, it is therefore, prayed that your Lordships would be pleased to admit this petition, call for the records, issue a rule, calling upon the respondents to show cause as to why a writ in the nature of Mandamus shall not be issued to set aside the impugned notice dated 10/11/2022 and impugned proclamation of sale notice dated 17/11/2022 (Annexure No. 3 and 4 respectively) issued by the respondent. And on perusal of records and reply to show cause if any and after hearing the parties would be pleased to make the rule absolute by setting aside the impugned notice dated 10/11/2022 and impugned proclamation of sale notice dated 17/11/2022 (Annexure No. 3 and 4 respectively). And or pass any other order or orders as Your Lordship may deem fit and proper in the interest of justice. Further it is prayed that pending disposal of this writ petition the operation of impugned notice dated 10/11/2022 and impugned proclamation of sale notice dated 17/11/2022 (Annexure No. 3 and 4 respectively) and e-auction of the secured assets fixed on 16/12/2022 may be stayed ex-parte.” 3. Considering the fact that what is challenged before this Court is the proceedings under Section 13 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002 against which the present petition is filed, the petitioner has an efficacious remedy by way of filing an appeal as provided under Section 17 of the SARFAESI Act before the DRT. Hence no extra-ordinary circumstances arise in this petition which warrant interference of this Court by exercising its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India without exhausting the alternative remedy. 4. We are fortified in our view by the latest judgment of the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Varimadugu Obi Reddy vs. B. Sreenivasulu and Others in Civil Appeal No. 8470 of 2022 decided on 16.11.2022 wherein the Hon’ble Apex Court has observed as thus: “32.
4. We are fortified in our view by the latest judgment of the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Varimadugu Obi Reddy vs. B. Sreenivasulu and Others in Civil Appeal No. 8470 of 2022 decided on 16.11.2022 wherein the Hon’ble Apex Court has observed as thus: “32. The order of the Tribunal dated 1st August, 2019 was an appealable order under Section 18 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002 and in the ordinary course of business, the borrowers/person aggrieved was supposed to avail the statutory remedy of appeal which the law provides under Section 18 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002 in the absence of efficacious alternative remedy being availed, there was no reasonable justification tendered by the respondent borrowers in approaching the High Court and filing writ application assailing order of the Tribunal dated 1st August, 2019 under its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution without exhausting the statutory right of appeal available at its command. 33. This Court in the judgment in United Bank of India vs. Satyawati Tondon and Others, (2010) 8 SCC 110 , was concerned with the argument of alternative remedy provided under the SARFAESI Act, 2002 and dealing with the argument of alternative remedy, this Court had observed that where an effective remedy is available to an aggrieved person, the High Court ordinarily must insist that before availing the remedy under Article 226 of the Constitution, the alternative remedy available under the relevant statute must be exhausted. Paras 43, 44 and 45 of the said judgment are relevant for the purpose and are extracted below: “43. Unfortunately, the High Court overlooked the settled law that the High Court will ordinarily not entertain a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution if an effective remedy is available to the aggrieved person and that this rule applies with greater rigour in matters involving recovery of taxes, cess, fees, other types of public money and the dues of banks and other financial institutions. In our view, while dealing with the petitions involving challenge to the action taken for recovery of the public dues, etc.
In our view, while dealing with the petitions involving challenge to the action taken for recovery of the public dues, etc. the High Court must keep in mind that the legislations enacted by Parliament and State Legislatures for recovery of such dues are a code unto themselves inasmuch as they not only contain comprehensive procedure for recovery of the dues but also envisage constitution of quasi-judicial bodies for redressal of the grievance of any aggrieved person. Therefore, in all such cases, the High Court must insist that before availing remedy under Article 226 of the Constitution, a person must exhaust the remedies available under the relevant statute. 44. While expressing the aforesaid view, we are conscious that the powers conferred upon the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution to issue to any person or authority, including in appropriate cases, any Government, directions, orders or writs including the five prerogative writs for the enforcement of any of the rights conferred by Part III or for any other purpose are very wide and there is no express limitation on exercise of that power but, at the same time, we cannot be oblivious of the rules of self imposed restraint evolved by this Court, which every High Court is bound to keep in view while exercising power under Article 226 of the Constitution. 45. It is true that the rule of exhaustion of alternative remedy is a rule of discretion and not one of compulsion, but it is difficult to fathom any reason why the High Court should entertain a petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution and pass interim order ignoring the fact that the petitioner can avail effective alternative remedy by filing application, appeal, revision, etc. and the particular legislation contains a detailed mechanism for redressal of his grievance.” 34. In the instant case, although the respondent borrowers initially approached the Debts Recovery Tribunal by filing an application under Section 17 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002, but the order of the Tribunal indeed was appealable under Section 18 of the Act subject to the compliance of condition of pre-deposit and without exhausting the statutory remedy of appeal, the respondent borrowers approached the High Court by filing the writ application under Article 226 of the Constitution.
We deprecate such practice of entertaining the writ application by the High Court in exercise of jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution without exhausting the alternative statutory remedy available under the law. This circuitous route appears to have been adopted to avoid the condition of pre-deposit contemplated under 2nd proviso to Section 18 of the Act 2002.” 5. Mr. M.A. Sheikh, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner also submits that the auction is scheduled tomorrow and therefore, protection of two days may be granted. 6. It clearly appears that the petitioner has approached this Court by way of this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India only with a motive to throttle the recovery proceedings initiated by the bank. 7. We do not find any reason to interfere with the recovery proceedings initiated by the bank. No case for interference is made out. This petition fails and the same is hereby dismissed. However, the petitioner is at liberty to avail the alternative remedy available by way of filing an appeal under Section 17 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002 before the DRT. No costs.