Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) and Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs)

The Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) and Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs) were established under the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act (RDB Act), 1993 with the specific objective of providing expeditious adjudication and recovery of debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions.

At present, 39 Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) and 5 Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs) are functioning across the country. Each DRT and DRAT are headed by a Presiding Officer and a Chairperson respectively.

Debt Recovery Laws

Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy (RDB Act), 1993 is an Act to provide for the establishment of Tribunals for expeditious adjudication and recovery of debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Securitization & Reconstruction of Financial Assets & Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002 is an Act to regulate securitisation and reconstruction of Financial Assets and enforcement of security interest and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Debts Recovery Tribunals and Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals

The Debts recovery Tribunals (DRTs) and Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRATs) have been established under RDB Act, 1993 with the specific objective of providing expeditious adjudication and recovery of debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions.

At present, 39 DRTs and 5 DRATs are functioning across the country. Each DRT and DRAT are headed by a Presiding Officer and a Chairperson respectively.

DEBTS RECOVERY APPELLATE TRIBUNALS (DRATs)

The Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993 (RDB Act) provides speedy redressal to lenders and borrowers through filing of Original Applications (OAs) in Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) and appeals in Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs).

The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets & Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act) provides access to banks and financial institutions covered under the Act for recovery of secured debts from the borrowers without the intervention of the Courts at the first stage. Securitisation Appeals (SAs) can be filed with the DRTs by those aggrieved against action taken by secured creditors under the SARFAESI Act.

There are 39 DRTs and 5 DRATs, which are single Member Tribunals. The jurisdiction of DRATs and list of DRTs is as below:

Tribunal Jurisdictions

DRAT Allahabad (Jurisdiction over 6 DRTs)

DRT AllahabadDRT DehradunDRT JabalpurDRT Lucknow
DRT PatnaDRT Ranchi 

DRAT Chennai (Jurisdiction over 9 DRTs)

DRT Chennai-1DRT Chennai-2DRT Chennai-3DRT Bengaluru-1
DRT Bengaluru-2DRT CoimbatoreDRT Ernakulam-1DRT Ernakulam-2
DRT Madurai 

DRAT Delhi (Jurisdiction over 7 DRTs)

DRT Delhi-1DRT Delhi-2DRT Delhi-3DRT Chandigarh-1
DRT Chandigarh-2DRT Chandigarh-3DRT Jaipur 

DRAT Kolkata (Jurisdiction over 9 DRTs)

DRT Kolkata-1DRT Kolkata-2DRT Kolkata-3DRT Hyderabad-1
DRT Hyderabad-2DRT VisakhapatnamDRT SiliguriDRT Cuttack
DRT Guwahati 

DRAT Mumbai (Jurisdiction over 8 DRTs)

DRT Mumbai-1DRT Mumbai-2DRT Mumbai-3DRT Ahmedabad-1
DRT Ahmedabad-2DRT AurangabadDRT NagpurDRT Pune

e-DRT project

The e-DRT project has been implemented in all DRTs and DRATs. This project aims to bring in improved access, efficiency and transparency. e-DRT provides access to e-filing, e-payment of fees, cause list generation and a case information system that enables viewing of case status, orders and judgments.