IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
WP(C).No. 17435 of 2009(Y)
1. M.VINAYACHANDRAN NAIR,
... Petitioner
Vs
1. THE THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT
... Respondent
2. LAY SECRETARY & TREASURER,
3. JAYAN S.,
For Petitioner :SRI.V.R.GOPU
For Respondent :SRI.K.G.RADHAKRISHAN,SC,TVM.DIST.CO.OP.
The Hon'ble MR. Justice ANTONY DOMINIC
Dated :06/07/2009
O R D E R
ANTONY DOMINIC, J.
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W.P.(C) NO. 17435 OF 2009 (Y)
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Dated this the 6th day of July, 2009
J U D G M E N T
Petitioner was one of the sureties to a loan availed of by the
3rd respondent from the 1st respondent Co-operative Bank. The
loan was availed of during the year 1998-99. Default was
committed and Ext.P1 notice was issued to the Administrative
Officer of the Department, in which the petitioner is working.
Petitioner contested the liability by Exts.P2 and P3. Finally, the
Bank issued Ext.P4 requiring recovery of the amount due at the
rate of Rs.3,500/- per month. It is challenging the recovery, the
writ petition is filed.
2. Evidently, petitioner has undertaken to discharge the
liability and also agreed for recovery from his salary. If that be
so, there is nothing illegal in the proceedings initiated by the Bank
by Ext.P4. Petitioner submits that default was committed at the
inception itself if the Bank had taken timely action, the liability
would have been much less than what it is today and that
therefore, he should not be penalised for the latches on the part
of the Bank.
WPC 17435/09
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3. In my view, if the petitioner has a case that the
recovery is unjustified or that the amount that is sought to be
realised is not due, this is a monetary dispute and it is for the
petitioner to pursue the matter before the statutory authorities.
In any case, having regard to the fact that the petitioner has
given undertaking, a copy of which has been produced by the
Bank as Ext.R1(a) along with the counter affidavit, the recovery
proposed from his salary cannot be faulted.
4. Counsel for the petitioner submits that the 3rd
respondent, the principal debtor is willing to discharge the liability
by paying monthly instalment of Rs.5,000/- each and accepting
such payment, he should be exonerated from monthly recovery
as proposed in Ext.P4. If as stated, the 3rd respondent is willing to
discharge the liability in the manner as indicated above, I leave it
open to the petitioner to raise the matter before the 1st
respondent, in which event, the Bank shall consider the request of
the petitioner for relieving from recovery from his salary.
Writ petition is dismissed, but however without prejudice to
WPC 17435/09
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the contentions of the petitioner and clarifying that it will be open
to the petitioner to pursue his case before the statutory
authorities.
ANTONY DOMINIC, JUDGE
Rp