GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 21st Oct. The Supreme Court on Monday expressed discontent with the Union Finance Ministry for requesting extensive data from the Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRT) concerning the amount recovered based on their orders. A bench led by Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih criticized the ministry for treating judicial staff at the DRTs as subordinates and demanded an explanation for the short timeline imposed for data collection.
“You are treating the judicial staff as if they are your subordinates. We expect an apology from the government,” the bench stated. They highlighted the unreasonable expectation to collect such extensive data within three days, stressing that if the ministry requires data, they should provide additional staff to assist the DRTs. “This will not be tolerated,” they warned, emphasizing the judicial officers’ status.
The court voiced surprise at the DRTs being subjected to such demands and instructed that the secretary of the concerned department review the situation, referencing the court’s orders and other relevant material to ensure a proper affidavit is submitted.
Previously, on September 30, the apex court had issued a notice to the section officer at the Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services, to clarify why the DRTs were being treated like a central government department. The Supreme Court was addressing a plea that challenged the postponement of an application pending before the tribunal due to a lawyers’ strike, and it had also issued a contempt notice to the Vishakhapatnam Bar Association for halting court work, resulting in the DRT’s non-functioning.
The post SC Reprimands Finance Ministry for Data Demand from Debts Recovery Tribunals appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
