IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 27.11.2017 CORAM:
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE S.MANIKUMAR AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.SURESH KUMAR W.P.No.30613 of 2017 M/s.Shriram Housing Finance Ltd., Rep. By its Authorised Officer, Mrs.Asha Lukose. ... Petitioner vs.
1. The District Collector/Magistrate, Cuddalore Collectorate, Cuddalore.
2. Mr.C.Shanmugam
3. Mr.Vinoth Raja ... Respondents WRIT Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of a writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st respondent to pass orders on the petition filed on 10.04.2017 u/s. 14(1) of SARFAESI Act, within the time stipulated by this Honourable Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.M.Ajmal Azzath For Respondents : Mr.M.Elumalai (for R1) Government Advocate
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by S.MANIKUMAR, J) For taking possession, M/s.Shriram Housing Finance Limited, represented by its authorised officer, Chennai has filed an application dated 10.04.2017 under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002 to the District Collector / Magistrate, Cuddalore District. As the abovesaid application is pending for the last seven months, petitioner has sought for a writ of mandamus, directing the District Collector / Magistrate, Cuddalore District to pass orders within a time frame. Respondents 2 and 3 are the borrowers.
2. As the District Collector / Magistrate, Cuddalore District, the 1st respondent is bound to pass orders on the application, we are of the view that there is no need to issue notice to respondents 2 and 3. Hence, notice to respondents 2 and 3, is waived.
3. On this day, when the writ petition came up for admission, on instructions, Mr.M.Elumalai, learned Government Advocate submitted that orders are yet to be passed in the application filed under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002. However, he prayed for six weeks time.
4. Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002 mandates that on receipt of an affidavit from the Authorised Officer, the District Magistrate or the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be, shall after satisfying the contents of the affidavit, pass suitable orders for the purpose of taking possession of the secured assets, within a period of 30 days from the date of application. Proviso to the said Section states that if no order is passed by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or District Magistrate, within the said period of thirty days, for the reasons beyond his control, he may after recording reasons, in writing, for the same, pass the order within such also period but not exceeding in aggregate 60 days.
5. The Principal Secretary to Government, vide, Letter No.19498/Res.II/2014-1, dated 09.07.2014, has issued directions, stating that there should be speedy disposal of the applications filed under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act. The said letter is extracted hereunder:-
“I am to invite your kind attention to the reference cited (copy enclosed) wherein the GM, SLBC, Chennai, has requested to advise the District Collectors (District Magistrates) for speedy disposal of applications filed by banks to assist in taking possession of securities of the defaulters charged to the banks under Section 14 of SARFAESI Act, 2002.
2. In this connection, I am to request you to take necessary action for speedy disposal of the applications filed by the banks in taking possession of securities of the defaulters charged to the banks under Section 14 of SARFAESI Act, 2002, without affecting the image of the administration.”
6. Following the said letter, in W.P.No.7813 of 2016, dated 22.04.2016, a Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court, has passed the following order:-
“In the light of the above, we direct the District Collector (District Magistrate), Thanjavur District, to pass orders on the Application dated 18/8/2015 in file Ref.No.34810/2015, filed under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act, within the period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. While doing so, procedure set out under Section 14 of the Act should be followed. Mr.B.Kumar, learned Additional Government Pleader is directed to forward the copy of this order to the Principal Secretary to Government, Finance (Res.II), Department, Chennai for appropriate follow up action. 10. Along with the supporting affidavit, to the instant writ petition, the petitioner has also enclosed the copies of the petitions, dated 8/1/2014, 7/5/2014, 11/9/2014, 24/12/2014 and 31/1/2015, filed under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002.”
7. Placing on record the submission of the learned Government Advocate and in the light of the directions issued by the Principal Secretary to Government, vide, Letter No.19498/Res.II/2014-1, dated 09.07.2014 and the earlier order of this Court in W.P.No.7813 of 2016, dated 22.04.2016, this Court is inclined to pass the following orders, “The District Collector/Magistrate, Cuddalore, is directed to dispose of the application dated 10.04.2017, if not done earlier, within a period of six weeks, from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. While doing so, District Collector/Magistrate, Cuddalore, should act in accordance with Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002.”
8. With the above observation and direction, this writ petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs.
Index: Yes/No. Internet: Yes Speaking/Non speaking ars To The District Collector/Magistrate, Cuddalore.
(S.M.K., J.) (R.S.K., J.) 27.11.2017
S.MANIKUMAR, J.
AND R.SURESH KUMAR, J.
ars
W.P.No.30613 of 2017
27.11.2017