One of the major problems faced by banks and financial institutions in India is the issue of bad debts, officially known as Non-Performing Assets (NPA). Several factors contribute to this problem, including political interference, poor law enforcement, outdated laws and procedures, and corruption at various levels.
Non-performing assets of banks and financial institutions have been increasing at alarming rates. Some NPAs arise due to business failures caused by circumstances beyond the control of management, where entrepreneurs cannot be held primarily responsible for defaults. However, other NPAs are a result of unscrupulous management that misuses or diverts funds for purposes other than those intended.
The SARFAESI Act was introduced to assist in recovering NPAs in certain cases, although it does not resolve all issues. The mindset of many borrowers tends to be that borrowed money need not be repaid, and they often prolong legal battles without consequence. While the SARFAESI Act did not significantly alter this mentality, the Insolvency Code has begun to change borrower psychology. If this change continues, the primary objective of the Act will be fulfilled.
In the last fifty years, there has been a tendency for the misappropriation of borrowed funds for personal benefit, which has unfortunately become widespread. Additionally, loan waivers granted by governments from time to time have discouraged timely repayment, making those who repay on schedule appear foolish.
The government is aware of these problems, and the Reserve Bank of India has been tightening regulations related to Non-Performing Assets.
The Sick Industrial Companies Act (SICA), enacted in 1986 to address the issue of sick companies, failed to solve the problem. Instead, it often worsened the situation by providing safe harbor and unlimited protection to sick companies under its provisions. SICA has since been repealed and replaced by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, which is more effective in addressing these issues.
The Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993, now known as the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993, was introduced to expedite debt recovery. After initial challenges, this Act has stabilized and created Debt Recovery Tribunals and Appellate Tribunals, which have shown moderately encouraging results.
The SARFAESI Act, effective from June 21, 2002, represents a significant step forward in improving the financial health of banks and financial institutions by aiming to reduce NPAs. The Insolvency Code of 2016 serves as an additional advancement in this direction.
Historical Background of the Present SARFAESI Act
Banks and financial institutions typically grant loans or credit facilities based on security interests such as mortgages, hypothecation, and pledges. They also obtain personal guarantees from directors, partners, or group companies. Although lending appears secure on paper, in practice, the security often proves ineffective in recovering bad debts.
Under Section 69 of the Transfer of Property Act, mortgagees can take possession of mortgaged property and sell it without court intervention only in cases of English mortgages if the mortgagor defaults. Additionally, possession can be taken without court intervention only in specific cases involving properties in Kolkata, Chennai, or Mumbai. In most other cases, court approval is required to take possession.
An English mortgage is defined where the mortgagor binds to repay the mortgage money on a fixed date and transfers the property absolutely to the mortgagee, subject to re-transfer upon repayment.
Consequently, banks and financial institutions had to enforce their security through lengthy court procedures, which were often slow and inefficient. By the time possession was obtained, the asset might have lost value or no longer existed.
The law lacked specific provisions regarding hypothecation, which is a common form of security interest. Furthermore, there were no clear regulations for the securitisation of assets and asset reconstruction.
The SARFAESI Act is based on recommendations by the Narsimham Committee I & II and the Andhyarujina Committee, which advocated for new legislation to regulate securitisation, asset reconstruction, and enforcement of security interests.
Constitutional Validity of the SARFAESI Act
The constitutional validity of the SARFAESI Act has been upheld in landmark judgments. The Supreme Court in Mardia Chemicals v. Union of India held that even private contractual rights could be altered retrospectively in the public interest. The Court affirmed the validity of provisions allowing banks and financial institutions to take possession of charged assets without court intervention, even for loan agreements predating the Act.
Several High Courts have upheld the constitutional validity of key sections of the Act, including those related to the enforcement of security interests and appeal mechanisms. These judgments emphasize the importance of natural justice, requiring secured creditors to consider borrower representations before proceeding with asset possession.
Courts have also ruled that they cannot compel financial institutions to rehabilitate or revive sick industries, reinforcing the independent role of lenders in asset enforcement.
Applicability of the SARFAESI Act to Jammu and Kashmir
The SARFAESI Act falls under the banking entry of the Union List in the Constitution of India, making it applicable to Jammu and Kashmir. The Supreme Court has held that the Act overrides provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Transfer of Property Act, specifically Section 140, in cases of conflict.
Earlier decisions that limited the Act’s applicability in Jammu and Kashmir have been rendered invalid. However, a unique provision requires that appeals against secured creditor actions in Jammu and Kashmir must be filed before the District Judge, as specified in Section 17A of the SARFAESI Act.
Salient Features of the SARFAESI Act
The long title of the Act, as amended in 2016, outlines three main objectives: to regulate securitisation and reconstruction of financial assets, enforcement of security interests, and provision for a central database of security interests created on property rights. These provisions operate independently in many aspects but collectively form the comprehensive framework of the SARFAESI Act.
The Act is broadly structured into chapters covering preliminary provisions, regulation of securitisation and asset reconstruction, enforcement of security interest, central registry, registration by creditors, offences and penalties, and miscellaneous matters.
The three core areas of the Act can be seen as thee enforcement of security interest, securitisation, and asset reconstruction. Each area addresses a specific aspect of managing and recovering financial assets.
Enforcement of Security Interest
A key feature of the SARFAESI Act is the power given to secured creditors, such as banks and financial institutions, to enforce their security interests directly without court or tribunal intervention after issuing a 60-day notice to the borrower. The borrower is allowed to raise objections or representations, which the secured creditor must consider before proceeding.
If the borrower fails to repay the principal and interest as specified within the notice period, the secured creditor can take possession of the secured assets, assume management, or appoint persons to manage those assets. However, this power is exercisable only if the asset qualifies as a Non-Performing Asset under guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India or other regulatory authorities.
Following possession, the secured creditor may sell the assets to recover dues. If the recovery is insufficient, an application for the balance can be made to the Debt Recovery Tribunal. The secured creditor may also take action against guarantors or sell pledged assets directly.
Banks and financial institutions may also transfer possession of the asset to an Asset Reconstruction Company, which then acts as a secured creditor for recovery purposes.
Borrowers can appeal to the Debt Recovery Tribunal only after possession has been taken or management assumed, not at the notice stage. Civil courts are barred from hearing disputes related to enforcement under the Act, although writ petitions to the High Courts remain available.
Appeals from Debt Recovery Tribunal orders lie with the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal. If a borrower succeeds in such appeals, they are entitled to possession of the asset back along with compensation fixed by the tribunal, but not damages.
Securitisation
Securitisation under the Act involves the sale and purchase of pooled secured financial assets, typically stressed or distressed assets. The concept allows banks and financial institutions to bundle their loans and sell them to investors through special-purpose vehicles.
An Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC), registered with the Reserve Bank of India, plays a central role in securitisation. ARCs acquire financial assets, including future receivables, from banks and financial institutions by issuing debentures, bonds, or entering into other financial arrangements.
Once an ARC acquires financial assets, it becomes the secured creditor for all legal and recovery purposes. ARCs create separate schemes for each acquired financial asset and issue security receipts to qualified buyers, representing undivided interest in those assets.
The ARC realizes the financial assets, redeems investments, and pays returns to the investors under each scheme. Any disputes between banks, ARCs, and qualified buyers are subject to mandatory conciliation or arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Asset Reconstruction
Asset reconstruction shares similarities with securitisation but focuses primarily on acquiring non-performing financial assets from banks and financial institutions for realisation.
ARCs, registered with the Reserve Bank of India, acquire financial assets related to distressed loans and take on the role of secured creditors. The goal is to relieve banks and financial institutions from managing bad debts so that they can focus on their core lending activities.
ARCs devise individual schemes for each acquired asset and issue security receipts to qualified buyers, who invest in these schemes. These receipts represent an undivided interest in the financial assets.
The ARCs work to recover dues from these assets and return investments to qualified buyers with appropriate returns. Disputes among the involved parties are resolved through conciliation or arbitration as mandated by law.
Registration of Securitisation, Reconstruction, and Creation of Security Interest
The Act provides for the establishment of a Central Registry responsible for registering transactions related to securitisation, asset reconstruction, and the creation of security interests.
This Central Registry is integrated with other registries for security interests on property to ensure a unified system.
Records maintained by the Registry include details of securitisation and reconstruction schemes as well as security interests created on property by borrowers.
Provisions also exist for registration of security interests by both secured and unsecured creditors over the property of borrowers. This registration system aids in transparency and efficient enforcement of security interests.
Problems in the SARFAESI Act
Despite the significant powers granted under the SARFAESI Act, several problems and limitations affect its effectiveness. It is noteworthy that similar powers existed under the State Financial Corporations Act, 1951, allowing direct possession of assets without court intervention, but those provisions did not reduce industrial sickness or bad debts.
Today, the SARFAESI Act’s powers to take possession and sell individual assets remain relevant, but are limited in cases involving companies because the Insolvency Code, 2016 offers more effective mechanisms for such matters.
Taking over the management of assets under the SARFAESI Act is very rare, reducing its practical impact in restructuring businesses.
One major issue is that when assets are transferred by secured creditors under Section 13(6) of the Act, the transferee acquires the assets subject to all existing liabilities, such as unpaid labour dues, outstanding electricity bills, and past tax liabilities. This limits the transferee’s ability to utilize the assets freely and lowers the asset’s market value.
Clear legal provisions ensuring that transferees receive assets free from past liabilities would promote better asset utilization and encourage investment. The Insolvency Code addresses this issue but applies only to companies undergoing insolvency resolution processes.
Outstanding liabilities such as unpaid electricity bills frequently obstruct restoration of essential services after asset transfer. Tax laws that prioritize government dues further complicate enforcement of security interests.
Another concern is the extensive powers granted to secured creditors, which allow them to act with limited checks and balances. Once they decide to take possession of assets, there is often no legal recourse to stop them until the assets are actually taken. Even winding up proceedings cannot begin without their consent if management has been taken over.
Secured creditors are empowered to determine the amount due and specify this in the notice under Section 13(2) of the Act. This essentially makes them adjudicators of the debt amount without necessarily considering the borrower’s counterclaims, although borrowers may seek relief from the Debt Recovery Tribunal later.
The Act requires that entire outstanding liabilities be paid immediately upon notice, including instalments not yet due, which can be financially burdensome for borrowers. The provision demanding a 50 percent deposit of the disputed amount during appeals adds further hardship.
The SARFAESI Act’s provisions apply only to public financial institutions and banking companies. With increasing privatization and ownership changes, some banks and financial institutions may no longer qualify as state entities, potentially limiting writ remedies available to borrowers.
Bypassing courts in enforcement of security interests signals a lack of faith in the judiciary’s ability to deliver speedy justice. While the drastic powers in the Act were introduced to compensate for judicial delays, this trend raises concerns about due process and borrower protection.
Lenders’ Liability and Fair Practices Code
A significant criticism of the SARFAESI Act is that it heavily favors lenders and can lead to high-handed behavior against borrowers. Instances of unreasonable conduct and lack of accountability by lenders have been reported.
To balance this, there have been proposals for specific laws on lenders’ liability and borrowers’ rights. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India has issued guidelines recommending banks and financial institutions frame fair practice codes to regulate lender conduct and protect borrower interests.
These fair practice codes are intended to ensure transparency, fairness, and responsiveness in lender actions while enforcing security interests.
Parallel Proceedings Under SARFAESI Act, Civil Courts, and Insolvency Code
The SARFAESI Act, the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, civil court proceedings, and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code often operate simultaneously.
Courts have held that pendency of cases before Debt Recovery Tribunals or actions under SARFAESI Act cannot be a ground to reject insolvency resolution process applications under the Insolvency Code. This allows borrowers and lenders to pursue multiple remedies concurrently, promoting quicker resolution of distressed assets.
Several judicial decisions have clarified that proceedings under these laws can run in parallel without legal conflict, providing comprehensive mechanisms for debt recovery and resolution.
Impact and Importance of the SARFAESI Act
The SARFAESI Act has significantly changed the landscape of debt recovery in India by empowering banks and financial institutions to enforce security interests without lengthy court procedures. This has helped reduce delays and improve the efficiency of recovery efforts for Non-Performing Assets.
By allowing secured creditors to directly take possession of secured assets and sell them, the Act provides a faster alternative to traditional recovery through civil courts, which are often burdened with backlogs. This has also helped instill greater discipline among borrowers by increasing the consequences of default.
The Act’s provisions for securitisation and asset reconstruction have created institutional mechanisms, such as Asset Reconstruction Companies, which help clean up stressed assets and improve the balance sheets of banks. This in turn supports the broader stability of the financial system.
Challenges in Implementation
Despite its significant benefits in empowering secured creditors and expediting debt recovery, the implementation of the SARFAESI Act faces a range of challenges that can impede its full effectiveness. One of the primary complexities relates to the legal and procedural issues surrounding the transfer of assets. While the Act enables creditors to take possession and sell secured assets to recover dues, ambiguities and disputes frequently arise regarding the valuation of assets, rights of third parties, and the extent of liabilities attached to those assets. In many cases, unresolved liabilities or encumbrances on the assets pose a hurdle to smooth transfers, complicating recovery efforts and prolonging the resolution process.
Additionally, the Act’s framework provides limited protections to borrowers, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which may lack the legal expertise or resources to effectively navigate the often complex recovery proceedings initiated by secured creditors. Borrowers can find it challenging to respond to notices, file appropriate appeals, or engage in negotiations to safeguard their interests. The requirement under the SARFAESI Act for borrowers to deposit substantial security amounts before appealing to Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) can be a significant barrier, especially for financially distressed SMEs. This deposit condition, coupled with the limited availability of interim reliefs, may place borrowers at a disadvantage and potentially lead to premature enforcement actions.
The interplay between the SARFAESI Act and the judicial system further complicates enforcement. Coordination among various stakeholders—including courts, DRTs, banks, asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), and regulatory authorities—is critical to ensure that the recovery process is efficient, transparent, and fair. However, in practice, inconsistent judicial interpretations, procedural delays, and jurisdictional overlaps sometimes lead to fragmented enforcement, undermining the intended benefits of the Act.
Moreover, asset reconstruction companies face operational challenges in managing and revitalizing stressed assets. Valuation disputes, resistance from borrowers, and difficulties in disposing of or restructuring assets can limit the recovery potential. In some cases, the lack of a clear roadmap for post-possession asset management leads to erosion of asset value, further complicating resolution efforts.
To address these challenges, enhanced coordination mechanisms and streamlined processes are essential. Establishing clear guidelines on asset valuation, encumbrance resolution, and borrower protections can foster greater certainty and fairness. Improved communication and collaboration between banks, DRTs, ARCs, and courts can help expedite enforcement while balancing the rights of both creditors and borrowers. Additionally, capacity-building initiatives to educate and assist SMEs in navigating the legal framework can contribute to more equitable outcomes.
Relationship with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), enacted in 2016, serves as a pivotal reform in India’s insolvency and financial restructuring landscape, effectively complementing the SARFAESI Act by providing a more comprehensive, structured, and time-bound framework for insolvency resolution, particularly for companies. While the SARFAESI Act primarily empowers secured creditors to enforce security interests and recover secured debts without court intervention, the IBC offers a broader and more holistic approach, encompassing not only debt recovery but also liquidation, resolution, and revival of distressed companies.
The SARFAESI Act’s focus is limited to the enforcement of security interests, enabling banks and financial institutions to take possession and sell secured assets in order to recover outstanding dues efficiently. However, it does not provide mechanisms for the revival of companies or the resolution of their overall financial distress beyond secured asset recovery. In contrast, the IBC covers a wider spectrum of insolvency-related processes, including the initiation of insolvency proceedings, appointment of resolution professionals, formation of creditor committees, and structured resolution plans aimed at rescuing viable companies. It also facilitates the liquidation of non-viable firms, thereby ensuring an orderly exit from the market.
One of the significant improvements introduced by the IBC over the SARFAESI Act is the ability to transfer assets free from past liabilities, which helps clear encumbrances and paves the way for clean transfers to new owners or resolution applicants. This feature is vital in attracting investors and bidders during the resolution process, as it mitigates the risks associated with inherited debts and legal disputes. By providing an organized and transparent process for corporate insolvency, the IBC enhances creditor confidence and promotes a healthier credit culture.
Moreover, the IBC mandates a strict timeline—typically 180 days with a possible extension of 90 days—for the completion of the corporate insolvency resolution process, fostering speed and certainty in insolvency proceedings. This time-bound approach contrasts with the often protracted enforcement actions under the SARFAESI Act and traditional judicial processes, which can suffer from delays and litigation.
Legal precedents in India have clarified that parallel proceedings under both the SARFAESI Act and the IBC are permissible, allowing creditors to pursue multiple avenues for debt recovery simultaneously. This dual approach prevents delays in insolvency resolution that might occur if one pathway were to be stalled due to ongoing recovery actions under the other. Courts have held that the SARFAESI Act’s enforcement proceedings do not automatically get stayed upon initiation of insolvency proceedings under the IBC, ensuring creditors’ rights remain protected on multiple fronts.
Conclusion
The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, enacted in 2002, represents a landmark development in India’s financial regulatory framework. It empowers secured creditors, primarily banks and financial institutions, to recover their dues in a more efficient and timely manner, thereby strengthening the overall stability of the financial system. By allowing creditors to enforce security interests without the intervention of courts, the Act significantly reduces the time and costs associated with debt recovery processes. This capability is particularly important in addressing the growing problem of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs), which have historically posed a substantial challenge to the health of the banking sector.
One of the core strengths of the SARFAESI Act lies in its provisions for securitisation and asset reconstruction. Financial institutions can transfer their stressed assets to asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), which specialize in reviving distressed assets and maximizing recoveries. This process not only facilitates the efficient management of bad loans but also helps banks clean up their balance sheets, enabling them to extend fresh credit to productive sectors of the economy. The ability to securitize loans and enforce security interests expedites recovery and provides a mechanism to deal with defaulting borrowers decisively.
Despite its advantages, the SARFAESI Act is not without limitations and implementation challenges. The Act excludes unsecured creditors and certain classes of debts, limiting its scope. Moreover, there have been concerns related to the protection of borrower rights, procedural delays, and inconsistent judicial interpretations across different jurisdictions. Enforcement actions under the Act sometimes face resistance from borrowers, leading to protracted litigation. Furthermore, operational challenges such as valuation disputes, difficulties in asset disposal, and coordination issues with other regulatory bodies have occasionally hindered the smooth functioning of the Act.
Recognizing these challenges, the introduction of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in 2016 has complemented the SARFAESI Act by providing a comprehensive framework for insolvency resolution and liquidation. The IBC offers a time-bound and structured process for resolving insolvencies of both corporate and individual debtors, thereby filling gaps left by the SARFAESI Act. Together, these laws form a multi-pronged approach to debt recovery and insolvency management.