SC issues notice to Centre over vacancies in Debt Recovery Tribunals
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Ministry of Finance on a PIL highlighting critical vacancies in Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) across India.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar heard the submissions of Sudarshan Rajan, appearing for PIL petitioner Nischay Chaudhary, and sought the response of the Union Ministry of Finance.
The PIL raised concerns that nearly one-third of the 39 DRTs in the country are currently non-functional due to absence of Presiding Officers, undermining their core objective of expediting debt recovery for banks and financial institutions.
The DRTs are set up under the Recovery of Dues to Banks and Financial Institutions Act of 1993 to enable banks and financial institutions recover bad debts from borrowers.
According to the PIL, as of September 30, 2024, 11 DRTs are without Presiding Officers, severely impacting their ability to resolve cases efficiently.
The petitioner argues that this inaction frustrates the purpose of the 1993 law, which was enacted to ensure timely adjudication and recovery of debts.
The PIL also emphasises that speedy justice is a fundamental right under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, as recognised by the Supreme Court in the case of District Bar Association Dehradun vs. Ishwar Shandilya in 2020.
The PIL sought a direction to the Ministry of Finance to produce records relating to the selection and appointment of Presiding Officers in DRTs to evaluate the government's seriousness in addressing these vacancies.
It also sought a direction to the Centre to mandate the timely filling up of existing vacancies and establish mechanisms to prevent delays in future appointments.
As interim measures, it sought a direction that the powers of non-functional DRTs are vested in other tribunals to prevent disruption of services.
“Issue any further orders to safeguard the efficient functioning of DRTs in the interest of justice,” the PIL said.
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CPI(M) demands Centre's intervention to end violence in Manipur
New Delhi (PTI): The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday expressed concern over the situation in Manipur and demanded that the Union government intervene to end the violence.
In a statement issued here, the Politburo of the CPI(M) also held Chief Minister Biren Singh responsible for the deteriorating situation.
“A grave situation has developed in Manipur with the intensification of violence due to killings and counter-killings on ethnic lines. 20 people have been killed in various incidents since November 7,” the CPI(M) said.
The party said that the discovery of five bodies of women and children, who were abducted earlier in a horrific incident, has inflamed the situation in the Valley.
The Left party questioned why Singh had been allowed to continue in his post.
“Right from the beginning, it was Chief Minister Biren Singh who was responsible for the deteriorating situation, yet the Central government and the BJP, as the ruling party, refused to remove him and allowed him to continue,” they said.
A situation has now arisen where the writ of the state government and the administration does not run, the Left party said, adding that it is time for the Central government to strongly intervene to immediately put an end to the violence.
“It must also begin serious efforts for a political settlement that restores peace and safeguards the rights of all ethnic communities in the state,” they added.
The situation in Manipur, which has been reeling from ethnic strife since May last year, has become even more volatile following protests and violence after the recovery of the bodies of women and children.
More than 220 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between the Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and the adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year.
