IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
WP(C).No. 17017 of 2008(A)
1. BENSON NAVATHARAKAN, AGED 58,
... Petitioner
Vs
1. AUTHORISED OFFICER/CHIEF MANAGER,
... Respondent
2. NAGENDRAN PILLAI, MANAGER, FEDERAL
3. YESUDASN, JUSTIAN COTTAGE,
For Petitioner :SRI.R.T.PRADEEP
For Respondent :SRI.GEORGE VARGHESE (MANACHIRACKEL)
The Hon'ble MR. Justice S.SIRI JAGAN
Dated :11/08/2008
O R D E R
S.SIRI JAGAN, J
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W.P(C)No.17017 of 2008
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Dated this the 11th day of August, 2008.
J U D G M E N T
The petitioner challenges proceedings under the
Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and
Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 initiated by the
1st respondent for recovery of loan amounts due from the
petitioner to the Federal Bank. However, the petitioner does
not dispute the liability or the quantum. The petitioner only
seeks sometime to pay off the amount.
The 1st respondent has already taken possession of the
property pursuant to the proceedings under the Act. But by
order dated 16.6.2008, I directed the bank to hand over the
possession to the petitioner on paying Rs. 2 lakhs. It is
submitted that the amount has now been paid and
possession has been handed over to the petitioner.
Petitioner seeks six more months time to pay off the balance
amount due. This is opposed by the Counsel for the bank.
W.P(C)No.17017 of 2008 – 2 –
However, taking a lenient view, I dispose of this writ
petition with a direction to the petitioner to pay the balance
amount due in six equal monthly instalments starting from
1.9.2008. Every subsequent instalment shall be paid on the
1st working day of every succeeding month. If the petitioner
pays the instalments also on the due dates further
proceedings under the Act shall be kept in abeyance.
However, if the petitioner commits default in payment of
any one of the instalments, it is open to the respondent to
resume possession from the petitioner and continue
proceedings under the Act as now initiated without having
to issue any further notice or proceedings in that regard. If
the petitioner commits default in payment of any one of the
instalments, the petitioner shall voluntarily surrender
possession of the security interest to the bank on demand,
failing which it would be open to the 1st respondent to move
this court for contempt of court. In the meanwhile the bank
shall consider petitioner’s Ext.P4 application for one time
W.P(C)No.17017 of 2008 – 3 –
settlement and pass appropriate orders thereon within one
month and communicate the decision to the petitioner. If
the petitioner seeks waiver of any agricultural loan as per
the Agricultural Debt Waiver Scheme of the Central
Government, the respondent shall consider that also in
accordance with the scheme applicable.
The writ petition is disposed of as above.
S.SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE
rhs