[Cites 2, Cited by 0]
Delhi High Court
Punjab National Bank vs The Deputy Director, Directorate Of ... on 19 February, 2026
Author: Navin Chawla
Bench: Navin Chawla
$~23
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Date of decision: 19.02.2026
+ MISC. APPEAL(PMLA) 49/2024 & CM APPL. 76423/2024
PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK .....Appellant
Through: Mr.Keshav Thakur, Mr.Rajesh
Chauhan, Mr.Mahesh Prasad,
Mr.Prithvi Thakur and
Ms.Aayushi Meena, Advs.
versus
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DIRECTORATE OF
ENFORCEMENT SRINAGAR AND ORS .....Respondents
Through: Mr.Rahul Tyagi, SC (ED) with
Ms.Priya Rai, Mr.Karan
Grover, Mr.Aniket Kumar
Singh, Mr.Priyansh Raj Singh,
Mr.Pawan Gangwal and
Ms.Bhawna Gandhi, Advs.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAVIN CHAWLA
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVINDER DUDEJA
NAVIN CHAWLA, J. (ORAL)
1. This appeal has been filed under Section 42 of the Prevention of
Money Laundering Act, 2002 (hereinafter referred to as 'PMLA'),
challenging the order dated 14.06.2024 passed by the learned
Appellate Tribunal under SAFEMA in FPA-PMLA-2734/SNR/2018
titled Punjab National Bank v. The Deputy Director, Directorate of
Enforcement, Srinagar.
2. The learned counsel for the respondents raises a preliminary
objection on the maintainability of the present appeal before this
Court, by contending that not only the entire cause of action has arisen
within the territorial jurisdiction of the Union Territory of Jammu and
Kashmir, but also the appellant itself is situated in Jammu, as would
be evident from the Memo of Parties.
3. The learned counsel for the appellant, on the other hand,
submits that as the Tribunal is situated in Delhi and even the
Adjudicating Authority is situated in Delhi, this Court would have the
territorial jurisdiction to entertain the present appeal.
4. We have considered the submissions made by the learned
counsels for the parties.
5. Section 42 of the PMLA reads as under:
"42. Appeal to High Court. - Any person
aggrieved by any decision or order of the
Appellate Tribunal may file an appeal to the
High Court within sixty days from the date of
communication of the decision or order of the
Appellate Tribunal to him on any question of
law or fact arising out of such order:
Provided that the High Court may, if it is
satisfied that the appellant was prevented by
sufficient cause from filing the appeal within
the said period, allow it to be filed within a
further period not exceeding sixty days.
Explanation. For the purposes of this section,
High Court means
(i) the High Court within the jurisdiction of
which the aggrieved party ordinarily resides
or carries on business or personally works for
gain; and
(ii) where the Central Government is the
aggrieved party, the High Court within the
jurisdiction of which the respondent, or in a
case where there are more than one
respondent, any of the respondents, ordinarily
resides or carries on business or personally
works for gain."
6. A reading of the above would clearly show that it is only the
High Court where the aggrieved party ordinarily resides or carries on
business or personally works for gain, which will have the territorial
jurisdiction to entertain the appeal. As the Memo of Parties itself
shows that the concerned branch of the appellant is situated at Jammu,
we find merit in the preliminary objection raised by the learned
counsel for the respondents.
7. Accordingly, the appeal along with the pending application is
dismissed for lack of territorial jurisdiction. However, we grant liberty
to the appellant to avail of its remedies in accordance with law before
the court of competent jurisdiction.
NAVIN CHAWLA, J
RAVINDER DUDEJA, J
FEBRUARY 19, 2026/ns/pb
