ST.MARY'S HOTEL(P) LTD.& ANR Vs. KOTTAYAM DIST.COOP.BANK LTD.& ORS.
Supreme Court of India (Division Bench (DB)- Two Judge)
Writ Petition (Civil), 367 of 2011, Judgment Date: Mar 10, 2015
NON-REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION (C) NO.367 OF 2011
ST. MARY'S HOTEL (P) LTD. & ANR. ... PETITIONERS
VS.
KOTTAYAM DIST. COOP. BANK LTD. & ORS. ... RESPONDENTS
J U D G M E N T
ANIL R. DAVE, J.
1. At the time of hearing of this petition, it has been submitted that
Petitioner No.1 has already filed an appeal before the Debt Recovery
Appellate Tribunal at Chennai (DRAT) and the said appeal, being AIR (SA)
230/2011, is pending. In the afore-stated appeal an interim order had been
passed whereby the petitioner had been directed to pay Rs.65 lakhs (Rupees
sixty five lakhs) by way of pre-deposit. At that stage, Writ Petition
No.367/2011 had been filed in this Court. In pursuance of an interim order
passed by this Court, a sum of Rs.2 crores (Rupees two Crores) has been
paid by the petitioners to the respondent-Bank and the said amount has been
kept in a separate account by the respondent-Bank.
2. As the petitioners have already paid more than Rs.65 lakhs (Rupees
sixty five lakhs), we direct that the amount which has been deposited in a
separate account by the respondent-Bank, shall be appropriated towards the
dues of the petitioners.
3. It would not be necessary for the petitioners to pay a further sum of
Rs.65 lakhs as directed by the Tribunal. The Tribunal shall decide the
appeal which is pending before it, preferably within three months from the
date of receipt of a copy of this order. During the pendency of afore-
stated appeal before the DRAT, no coercive steps shall be taken for
recovery of the amount under the provisions of the Securitization and
Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest
Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act).
4. The question of law with regard to the SARFAESI Act, 2002 and the
Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, is kept open.
5. The Registry shall give intimation of this order to the Tribunal.
6. The writ petition and I.A.12 (For directions) stand disposed of
accordingly.
..............J.
[ANIL R. DAVE]
..............J.
[KURIAN JOSEPH]
New Delhi;
10h March, 2015.