Date:29/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/29/stories/2008062955130600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Plea to quash debts recovery tribunal notification rejected

Special Correspondent

It brought Salem, Erode and Namakkal from Coimbatore tribunal to Madurai tribunal
“It took into account huge number of cases pending in Coimbatore and Chennai tribunals”

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has dismissed a writ petition seeking to quash a Union Government notification for establishing new debts recovery tribunals in Madurai and Chennai, carving them out of the Chennai and Coimbatore tribunals.

The January 2007 notification removed Salem, Erode and Namakkal from the jurisdiction of the Coimbatore tribunal and brought them under the Madurai tribunal.

“Far away from Madurai”

The petitioner R. Prabhakaran contended that the three districts were near to Coimbatore and far away from Madurai.

Assistant Solicitor-General P. Wilson said the notification took into account the huge number of cases from different districts pending in the Coimbatore and Chennai tribunals, and the delay in disposal of these cases, and its effect on banks.

The notification was based on the suggestions made by the chairperson of the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal.

A Bench of Justices S.J. Mukhopadhaya and V. Dhanapalan said it was always open to the Centre to know the details of the number of cases, both pending and cleared. The Bench said it found no merit in the petition and dismissed it.