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Judgment
The present writ petition has been filed seeking quashing of notice dated 07.02.2017 (Annexure P-10) issued under Section 13(4) of the
Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (for brevity, 'the Act') and auction notice dated
09.11.2017 (Annexure P-11).
The petitioner No.1 is a proprietorship concern and petitioner No.2 is the proprietor. Canara Bank, Rejangala Chowk, Sighana Road, Narnaul has
been arrayed as respondent in the present writ petition.
The petitioners availed a cash credit limit to the tune of Rs.10 lakhs from the respondent-bank. The said limit was enhanced to Rs.30 lakhs. In order
to secure the credit facility, the property consisting of 10/284 share in agriculture land bearing Khewat No.27, Khatoni No.27, Mustetil and Killa
Nos.50//16/2/(6-4), 17(8-0); Kitats 2 area measuring 14 Kanal 4 Marla wherein share in the land comes to 10 Marla situated in the revenue estate of
village Nasibpur, Tehsil Narnaul was mortgaged with the bank.
The petitioners were not able to maintain the financial discipline, hence, the account was classified as Non Performing Asset (NPA) on 29.12.2014.
The bank issued notice under Section 13(2) of the Act on 12.04.2016. As per the notice, there was outstanding amount of Rs. 38,66,762/- as on
31.03.2016. The petitioners filed their objections under Section 13(3-A) of the Act on 23.05.2016. The respondent-bank without considering the
objections issued notice under Section 13(4) of the Act dated 07.02.2017. Thereafter, the respondent-bank issued auction notice dated 09.11.2017
fixing the e-auction for 11.12.2017. Aggrieved of non-consideration of objections filed under Section 13(3-A) of the Act and of the recovery
proceedings initiated by the bank, the present petition has been filed.
Heard learned counsel for the parties.
Learned counsel for the petitioners argued that the property mortgaged with the bank is an agriculture land. As per Section 31(i) of the Act,
provisions of the Act shall not apply to any security interest created in agriculture land. He argued that the bank in notices issued under Sections 13(2)
and 13(4) of the Act itself described the mortgaged property as an agricultural land. The grievance raised is that a specific objection with regard to
non-application of the Act to agricultural land was raised by the petitioners in their objections filed under Section 13(3-A) of the Act but the same has
not been decided by the bank.
Learned counsel appearing for the bank could not dispute the fact that the objections filed by the petitioners were not decided by the bank. Section
31(i) of the Act is reproduced below:-Provisions of this Act not to apply in certain
cases._ The provisions of this Act shall not apply to--
XX XX XX
(i) any security interest created in agricultural land.
Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, considering the facts of the present case that a specific objection was raised by the
petitioners under Section 13(3-A) of the Act regarding mortgaged property to be an agricultural land and more so, the bank itself in its notices has
described the property as agricultural land, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent-bank to dispose of the objections filed by
the petitioners under Section 13(3-A) of the Act in accordance with law, after providing an opportunity of hearing to the petitioners and by passing a
speaking order. The decision shall be taken at the earliest but not later than one month from the receipt of the certified copy of this order. It is clarified
that it shall be open for the bank to proceed further in the matter after the decision is taken on the objections filed by the petitioners in accordance with
law.