Madras High Court

Indian Bank vs The Regional Transport Officer (Rto) on 2 June, 2025

Author: S.M.Subramaniam

Bench: S.M.Subramaniam

                                                                                      W.P.(MD)No.19311 of 2024


                            BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

                                                 DATED : 02.06.2025

                                                          CORAM:

                              THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM
                                                             AND
                                  THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE

                                             W.P.(MD)No.19311 of 2024

                Indian Bank,
                Stressed Assets Management Branch,
                Rep., by its Authorized Officer,
                M.Athiyaman                                                            ... Petitioner

                                                               Vs.

                1.The Regional Transport Officer (RTO),
                  Office of the Regional Transport Office,
                  Vairavapuram, 6th Street, College Road,
                  Karaikudi, Sivagangai-630 002.

                2.The Deputy Transport Commissioner,
                  Sulakkarai, Virudhunagar, Kooraikundu,
                  Virudhunagar District-626 003.

                3.M/s.Vairam Travels (Borrower),
                  Rep., by its Sole Proprietor,
                  R.Vairam

                4.R.Vairam (Proprietor)

                5.R.Umarani (Guarantor)                                                ...Respondents


                1/8




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                                                                                            W.P.(MD)No.19311 of 2024


                PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a
                Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st respondent RTO to temporarily cancel the
                Registration Certificate of the vehicles bearing Registration Nos.(1) TN 63 CZ
                9279 (bus) (2) TN 63 CZ 9972 (Double Decker) (3) TN 63 CZ 7299 (Double
                Decker) and (4) TN 63 CZ 8199 (Double Decker) and also temporarily cancel the
                route permit of the above hypothecated 4 vehicles by considering the petitioner's
                representation dated 20.02.2024.


                                           For Petitioner          : Mr.S.Balasubramanian
                                           For R1 & R2             : Mr.S.P.Maharajan,
                                                                    Special Government Pleader
                                           For R3 to R5            : No Appearance


                                                                 ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.)

The Writ on hand has been instituted, seeking for a direction to the 1st

respondent to temporarily cancel the Registration Certificate of the vehicles

bearing Registration Nos.(1) TN 63 CZ 9279 (bus) (2) TN 63 CZ 9972 (Double

Decker) (3) TN 63 CZ 7299 (Double Decker) and (4) TN 63 CZ 8199 (Double

Decker) and also temporarily cancel the route permit of the above hypothecated 4

vehicles by considering the petitioner's representation dated 20.02.2024.

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2.Admittedly, an efficacious alternative remedy is contemplated under

SARFAESI Act. Therefore, the Writ proceedings are not maintainable, in view of

the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Celir LLP Vs.

Bafna Motors (Mumbai) Private Limited and others reported in (2024) 2 SCC 1.

Paragraph Nos.97, 98, 110 and 110.1 would be relevant in this context and have

been extracted herein:-

“97.This Court has time and again, reminded the High Courts that they should not entertain petition under Article 226 of the Constitution if an effective remedy is available to the aggrieved person under the provisions of the SARFAESI Act. This Court in Satyawati Tondon [United Bank of India v. Satyawati Tondon, (2010) 8 SCC 110 : (2010) 3 SCC (Civ) 260] made the following observations : (SCC pp. 123 & 128, paras 43-45 & 55) “43. Unfortunately, the High Court [Satyawati Tondon v. State of U.P., 2009 SCC OnLine All 2608] overlooked the settled law that the High Court will ordinarily not entertain a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution if an effective remedy is available to the aggrieved person and that this rule applies with greater rigour in matters involving recovery of taxes, cess, fees, other types of public money and the dues of banks and other financial institutions. In our view, while dealing

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with the petitions involving challenge to the action taken for recovery of the public dues, etc. the High Court must keep in mind that the legislations enacted by Parliament and State Legislatures for recovery of such dues are a code unto themselves inasmuch as they not only contain comprehensive procedure for recovery of the dues but also envisage constitution of quasi-judicial bodies for redressal of the grievance of any aggrieved person.

Therefore, in all such cases, the High Court must insist that before availing remedy under Article 226 of the Constitution, a person must exhaust the remedies available under the relevant statute.

44. While expressing the aforesaid view, we are conscious that the powers conferred upon the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution to issue to any person or authority, including in appropriate cases, any Government, directions, orders or writs including the five prerogative writs for the enforcement of any of the rights conferred by Part III or for any other purpose are very wide and there is no express limitation on exercise of that power but, at the same time, we cannot be oblivious of the rules of self-imposed restraint evolved by this Court, which every High Court is bound to keep in view while exercising power under Article 226 of the Constitution.

45. It is true that the rule of exhaustion of

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alternative remedy is a rule of discretion and not one of compulsion, but it is difficult to fathom any reason why the High Court should entertain a petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution and pass interim order ignoring the fact that the petitioner can avail effective alternative remedy by filing application, appeal, revision, etc. and the particular legislation contains a detailed mechanism for redressal of his grievance.

***

55. It is a matter of serious concern that despite repeated pronouncement of this Court, the High Courts continue to ignore the availability of statutory remedies under the DRT Act and the Sarfaesi Act and exercise jurisdiction under Article 226 for passing orders which have serious adverse impact on the right of banks and other financial institutions to recover their dues. We hope and trust that in future the High Courts will exercise their discretion in such matters with greater caution, care and circumspection.”

98.In CIT v. Chhabil Dass Agarwal [CIT v. Chhabil Dass Agarwal, (2014) 1 SCC 603] , this Court in para 15 made the following observations : (SCC p. 611, para 15) “15. Thus, while it can be said that this Court has recognised some exceptions to the rule of alternative

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remedy i.e. where the statutory authority has not acted in accordance with the provisions of the enactment in question, or in defiance of the fundamental principles of judicial procedure, or has resorted to invoke the provisions which are repealed, or when an order has been passed in total violation of the principles of natural justice, the proposition laid down in Thansingh Nathmal case [Thansingh Nathmal v. Supdt. of Taxes, 1964 SCC OnLine SC 13] , Titaghur Paper Mills case [Titaghur Paper Mills Co. Ltd. v. State of Orissa, (1983) 2 SCC 433 : 1983 SCC (Tax) 131] and other similar judgments that the High Court will not entertain a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution if an effective alternative remedy is available to the aggrieved person or the statute under which the action complained of has been taken itself contains a mechanism for redressal of grievance still holds the field. Therefore, when a statutory forum is created by law for redressal of grievances, a writ petition should not be entertained ignoring the statutory dispensation.”

110.We summarise our final conclusion as under:

110.1. The High Court was not justified in exercising its writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution more particularly when the borrowers had already availed the alternative remedy available to them under Section 17 of the SARFAESI Act.”

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3.In view of the above legal position, granting liberty to the petitioner to

approach the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal, wherein the proceedings are

admittedly pending, this Writ Petition stands dismissed. No costs.

(S.M.S., J.) & (A.D.M.C., J.) 02.06.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No

Yuva

To

1.The Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Office of the Regional Transport Office, Vairavapuram, 6th Street, College Road, Karaikudi, Sivagangai-630 002.