IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN
TUESDAY, THE 05TH DAY OF JANUARY 2021 / 15TH POUSHA, 1942
WP(C).No.7 OF 2021(A)
PETITIONERS:
1 ANANDAN P.K.
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O. PADMANABHA PANICKER, AJAYA BHAVAN, KARUVATTA, ADOOR
P.O., PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN-691 523.
2 SUSHEELA KUMARI V.S.
AGED 57 YEARS
W/O. ANANDAN, AJAYA BHAVAN, KARUVATTA, ADOOR P.O.,
PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN-691 523.
BY ADVS.
SRI.SREEKANTH S.NAIR
SMT.SHARI N.B.
RESPONDENTS:
ADOOR CO-OPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD. NO. 1804
ADOOR P.O.. PATHANAMTHITTA-691 523, REPRESENTED BY ITS
AUTHORISED OFFICER.
OTHER PRESENT:
SRI. MATHEW KURIAKOSE - SC
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 05.01.2021,
THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C).No.7 OF 2021(A)
2
JUDGMENT
The petitioners have approached this Court impugning the recovery steps initiated by the respondent - Bank under the provisions of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest Act ('the SARFAESI Act' for brevity) makes a limited plea that the said Bank be directed to offer them time until 25.03.2021 to pay off the entire liability in the loan account.
2. The petitioners, through their learned counsel, Sri.Sreekanth S. Nair, submits that they are making the above request because, they have already approached another financial institution, which is willing to take over the loan from the respondent - Bank and therefore, that if they are granted time as afore prayed for, they will be able to liquidate the entire loan liability and settle the account.
3. In response, Sri.Mathew Kuriakose, learned counsel appearing for the respondent - Bank, submitted that the overdues in the petitioners' loan account, as on 04.01.2021, is Rs.5,13,276/- and that if they are willing to pay off the entire liability and liquidate the balance in the account, time can be WP(C).No.7 OF 2021(A) 3 given as prayed for by them but that no further extensions be offered to them.
Taking note of the afore submissions and in particular, the limited plea made by the petitioners, I order this writ petition and direct the respondent - Bank to defer all action being pursued by them under the SARFAESI Act against the petitioners until 25.03.2021; within which time, the petitioners will be at liberty to liquidate the entire loan liability, along with all applicable charges and interest.
Needless to say, if the petitioners pay off the amounts as ordered above, the Bank will close the loan account and return the title documents of the assets mortgaged with them; but if on the contrary, the petitioners fail to comply with the afore directions, the respondent will be at liberty to take further action under the SARFAESI Act from the stage at which it is available today.
This writ petition is thus ordered.
SD/-
DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN
rp JUDGE
WP(C).No.7 OF 2021(A)
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APPENDIX
PETITIONER'S/S EXHIBITS:
EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT ISSUED BY THE
RESPONDENT ON 31.12.2020.
EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICES DATED 1.3.2020 ISSUED BY
ADVOCATE COMMISSIONER.