New Delhi, Nov 18 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Union government on a plea on non-appointment of Chairpersons in 11 Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) across the country.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar directed the Union government to file its response within five weeks followed by a rejoinder in three weeks on why the Chairpersons are not being appointed.
The DRTs were established under the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, of 1993. These quasi-judicial bodies deal with loan recovery disputes and were envisioned to help banks and other creditors to recover debts in a faster manner.
The petition highlights that the functioning of DRTs has faced roadblocks on account of the failure to fill vacancies of the members who form these tribunals.
In 2021, the Supreme Court had asked the High Courts to entertain the applications that are filed before these tribunals as a stop-gap measure in view of the lack of adequate staff at the DRTs and the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT), the petitioner pleaded.
The Kerala High Court had also in 2022, reprimanded the Central government for its inaction in filling up vacancies at various tribunals, causing irreparable hardship to litigants, the petitioner said.
