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How to challenge DRT order passed without proper hearing

Learn how to challenge a DRT order passed without proper hearing, legal grounds, documents required, and when to consult a DRT lawyer in India.

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How to challenge DRT order passed without proper hearing

DRT orders can have a major impact on borrowers, guarantors and companies or individuals facing banking disputes. When an adverse order is passed against a person without giving him an opportunity of being heard, it leads to various legal and financial worries. He might be thinking that Order was passed by Debt Recovery Tribunal without considering the documents submitted or explanations given or objections raised.

BK Singh Advocate (DRT Lawyer) has been approached by several individuals after knowing that order was passed ex parte by Debt Recovery Tribunal or without their effective participation.

Litigants are concerned not only about such order passed against them but procedure adopted before passing such order. Reasonable opportunity of hearing is part of judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings because every person whose rights and liabilities are affected by the order is generally entitled to a chance of being heard.

DRT order passed without hearing is an order against which a party aggrieved contends that he was not afforded any reasonable opportunity of being heard by Debt Recovery Tribunal. Such a matter could be regarding non-service of notice properly or no opportunity to communicate or not allowed to place evidence or submissions already made are not considered.

Whether such orders can be challenged depends on facts and circumstances of each case. Nature of order passed, stage of proceedings at which the party failed to appear, cause of non-appearance, documents brought on record etc., nature of remedy sought would require scrutiny.

Before borrowers take any step further whether it is a recovery proceedings against them or dispute related to properties or finance; it is essential to understand the legal position. BK Singh Advocate (DRT Lawyer) guides his clients about records maintained by tribunal and legal position in matters related to DRT.

Why Ordering By DRT Without Proper Hearing matter on Legal Level?

When a proceeding before DRT affect a person's pecuniary interest, secured assets and business stability. In such a case where order is passed without effective hearing, parties feels that Order was passed without understanding the facts involved in dispute.

Loan recovery issues involves huge money involved, loan agreements, guarantee, mortgages, account related documents.

A party has valid reasons to explain position on repayment related issues, disputed calculations, technical objections or any other reason which affects claim.

Issues becomes more serious when –

  • Borrower was not aware about date of hearing.
  • Document were not considered.
  • Party was unable to attend due to unavoidable reasons.
  • Order sheds no light on what has been submitted before Tribunal.

Most borrowers thinks DRT order cannot be challenged after it is passed, but there could be legal recourse available in certain situations subject to facts and procedure involved.

Such issues can be dealt only after proper scrutiny of order passed and record maintained by Tribunal. Every case is different and has different facts supporting it. Point which works as defect in one case may not work in similar case.

Why Does This Issue Matter for Borrowers and Businesses in India?


With the increase in financial transactions, business loans, and secured finance transactions, banking disputes have become more common. A DRT proceeding is generally associated with recovery proceedings initiated by banks and financial institutions.

The order, if passed against the borrower, business owner faces operational pressure where business properties/assets are concerned. Borrowers/Guarantors face anxiety of personal assets and financial reputation being at stake.

A large number of borrowers approach our Lawyers for consultation when faced with recovery/recovery related proceedings in courts/DRT in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai or other commercial cities.

Many of our clients approach us only when the matter is about to become time-barred. They believe that things would get automatically resolved. However, the delay only gives rise to additional technical difficulties. Once the matter is reviewed by our legal team at the right time, one can understand his position.

BK Singh Advocate (DRT Lawyer) works towards enabling clients with various DRT related issues by thorough examination of the orders/ notices passed along with the records.

Quick Facts About Challenging a DRT Order

#Key Point
1Proceedings before the DRT are primarily regulated by Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993.
2Opportunity of fair hearing is associated with natural justice.
3The remedies available can be examined by the party/agencies concerned depending upon the type of order.
4Documents and records of proceedings shall hold relevance while reviewing such cases.
5Each matter before DRT depends on facts and circumstances of the case.
6Time limit could also be needed to be served for specific proceedings.
7Need legal analysis to arrive at a remedy.

What does it mean when a DRT order passed without proper hearing?

Ordinarily speaking whenever someone mentions DRT order passed without proper hearing what he means is that someone was not given an opportunity of reasonable nature to be heard before an order was passed affecting his rights.

The concept of fair hearing comes under Natural justice and simply means that a person should ordinarily know what case he has to meet and be given opportunity to respond to the same.

That being said not every absence from hearing or non-participation from the proceedings will mean that there has been a violation of fair hearing. The tribunal or the court may look into circumstances such as:-

  • Did proper notice get served?
  • Did the party have knowledge about the proceedings?
  • Was a reasonable opportunity given?
  • Did the party make any effort to participate?
  • Did his non-participation cause any actual prejudice?

Hence it is not enough to say that a person was not present to challenge a DRT order. The background facts need to be seen as well.

How Can BK Singh Advocate Help in DRT Order Matters?

BK Singh Advocate ( DRT Lawyer ) can help you in matters related to DRT proceedings, banking disputes, recovery matters and borrower representation.

Legal Review would usually consist of knowing the story behind the loan dispute, reviewing the tribunal order passed, verification of procedural history and understanding the merits of the legal position.

Extra care is to be exercised while dealing with DRT matters as banking disputes involve complex documents, procedures & rules and a lot is at stake financially. Understanding the facts truly is essential before even thinking of a legal course of action.

If you are a client seeking knowledge on lawyers assisting with tribunal cases, you can find various services on DRT Lawyer website.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it possible to file a challenge against the DRT order passed without opportunity of hearing?

Yes, if the DRT passed an order without giving you an opportunity of hearing, the order is subject to examination. The remedy against such order would vary depending on the nature of order passed, facts of the case, procedural history and the provisions of law governing the dispute.

2. What is meant by proper opportunity of hearing not being given in DRT?

"proper opportunity of hearing" has been explained to mean that "no opportunity was given to the party to produce documents or put up objections, explanation or arguments before the tribunal passed an order affecting his rights.

3. Can I file a challenge against Ex-Parte order of DRT in favour of borrower?

Depending on facts and circumstances giving rise to non-appearance before the tribunal, service of notices and ability of the borrower to prove that there was no real opportunity of hearing given to him, an Ex-Parte order of DRT can be challenged.

4. What are the documents required for DRT order review?

Copies of DRT order, Notice of hearing/have orders, record of proceedings, loan documents, correspondence with bank, previous applications filed and any record available to prove that you were not given proper opportunity of hearing.

5. Can Guarantor challenge DRT order passed against him?

Guarantor's rights and remedies would depend on his participation in the DRT proceedings, nature of liability and extent to which the DRT order affects his money or property.

6. Under which law DRT order can be challenged in India?

The procedure for DRT proceedings are provided under Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993. The remedy would depend on the nature of order passed and at what stage of the proceedings.

7. Are all orders passed by DRT in absence of a party valid?

No, all orders are not invalid merely on the ground that it was passed in absence of the parties. The Debt Recovery Tribunal or Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal while entertaining the application would look into the service of notice, opportunity given to the party and the facts resulting into non-appearance.

8. Can I file an appeal against DRT order before DRAT?

An appeal before Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal would lie depending on the nature of order passed by DRT. You would require a legal examination of the order passed to understand the appellate remedy available.

9. How BK Singh Advocate can help you with DRT order passed against you?

BK Singh Advocate help borrowers, guarantors and business review DRT orders and provide them legal advice on what could be their possible courses of action depending on the facts of the case, documents on hand and banking laws applicable to the set of facts.

10. Why consult a DRT lawyer after getting an adverse order from DRT?

A DRT Lawyer would help you understand the order passed, examine the remedies available and help you identify the procedural lapse committed by the Bank and advise you accordingly.

Final Thoughts


BK Singh Advocate has experience of matters involving Order passed without effective opportunity of hearing. Order passed without hearing by DRT affects crucial rights of borrowers/guarantor/entrepreneurs. Whether such order passed affects your finances, properties, liabilities or your future remedies can be understood only after analyzing the facts, documents and procedure followed during the proceedings.

Let us analyze the facts, documents and record of proceeding prior to deciding the course of action to be adopted.

If your matter is related to DRT proceedings/recoveries/disputes and you have concern regarding order passed without effective opportunity of hearing then you need to understand various aspects of such Order. Every case is unique and needs to be evaluated on its own facts as applicability of law and evidence available decides the result.

Author Bio

BK Singh Advocate deals with banking disputes, Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), SARFAESI matters, and borrower related issues. If you are a borrower, guarantor, or any person facing issues related to recoveries can contact BK Singh Advocate to find yourself legally. BK Singh Advocate mainly deals with analyzing the documents as well as the procedures followed to give you the most pragmatic legal advice as per the facts of the situation.

There's no reason for concern. There is no difficult-to-understand legalese.

Someone who has helped many people with the same problems gives you clear, honest advice. We want to make the legal process easy to understand and use for everyone.

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