More than 2 Lakh cases pending with Debts Recovery Tribunals:

More than 2 Lakh cases pending with Debts Recovery Tribunals The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Bhagwat Karad said to questions asked in Lok Sabha that More than 2 Lakh cases are pending with Debts Recovery Tribunals. The Minister asked the following questions in Lok Sabha: Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state: (a) the number of cases pending before the Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs); (b) whether it is true that the law mandates that an application before the tribunal is to be dealt with as expeditiously as possible and disposed off within 180 days from the date of receipt of the application and if so, the details thereof; (c) the number of cases which are pending for more than 180 days; (d) whether the Government has made any efforts to analyse the reasons behind such pendency of cases; and (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? Dr. Bhagwat Karad, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance replied: a) As of 24.01.2024, the total number of cases pending before Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) is 2,15,431 out of which the Original Applications (OAs) filed under Section 19 of the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act (RDB Act), 1993 is 1,62,317 and Securitization Applications (SAs) filed under Section 17 of Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (SARFAESI Act), 2002 is 53,114. (b) According to Section 19 (24) of the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy (RDB) Act, 1993, any application made to the Tribunal under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of Section 19 of the said Act shall be dealt with as quickly as possible, and every effort shall be made by it to complete the proceedings in two hearings and finally dispose of the application within one hundred and eighty days of receipt of the application. (c) As of January 24, 2024, there are 1,85,076 cases outstanding for more than 180 days before the DRTs. The pending cases include 1,42,187 OAs and 42,889 SAs. (d) and (e) Cases that are pending are reviewed on a regular basis. Cases have remained pending primarily due to litigants' strategy of failing to comply with DRT summons, seeking intervention of the High Courts in DRT proceedings, choosing not to appear before the Tribunal and then challenging the ex-parte orders passed against them, and so on. Pendency is also caused sometimes by the absence of lawyers either of one side or both sides or by requesting adjournments. Several initiatives have been taken to reduce pending cases. All Presiding Officer (PO) positions but one have been filled, and procedures are being taken to replace the remaining vacancy as well as additional projected vacancies until September 30, 2024. All possible steps for facilitating easy access to DRTs for litigants and advocates are also being taken such as providing Video Conferencing facilities for case hearings.