Summary Suit

Introduction:

Summary suit or summary procedure is provided under Order XXXVII of Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (herein after referred as CPC, 1908) whose object is to summaries the procedure of suit in case the defendant is not having any defense.

Application & Scope

This order is applicable to –

  • All the suits upon bills of exchange, hundies, and promissory notes.
  • The  suits wherein the plaintiff seeks to recover a debt payable by the defendant, arising either on a written contract or on an enactment where  the sum sought to be recovered is fixed or on a guarantee where the claim against the principal is in respect of a debt.  

A suit can be instituted under this order in High Court, City Civil Court, Court of Small Causes or any other Court notified by the High Court.

Proceedings

Once the suit is instituted, summon of the suit as per Rule 2(2) of CPC along with a copy of the Plaint and annexure will be sent to the Defendant.

The Defendant will not be defending the suit against him unless, he enters an appearance. In case of default in appearance, the allegations of the plaintiff in the Plaint will be deemed to be admitted and a decree in accordance to that will be issued by the Court.

Defendant’s Appearance

After summon is issued to the defendant, he has ten days to make an appearance. This appearance can either be in person or by a pleader. At anytime within the prescribed period of ten days, the defendant by way of an affidavit or otherwise, can disclose such facts sufficient enough to entitle him the right to defend.

Conditions for Leave to Defend

The Defendant right to defend and the conditions are:

  • If the defendant satisfies the Court that he has a good defense to the claim on its merits.
  • If the Defendant raises a triable issue indicating that he has a fair defense.
  • If the defendant discloses such facts as may be deemed sufficient to entitle him to defend.
  • There is a fair dispute to be tried as to the meaning of document on which the claim is based.
  • Where the alleged facts are of such a nature as to entitle the defendant to    interrogate the plaintiff or to cross examine plaintiff’s witnesses.

Passing of Decree:

In the case of summary proceeding, a decree will be passed in the following situations:

  • In case the defendant defaults in its appearance then the allegations of the Plaintiff against the Defendant will be deemed to be true and a decree in the favor of Plaintiff will be issued. As per the decree the Plaintiff will be entitled to a sum which will not the exceed the sum mentioned in the summon, together with interest at the rate which will be specified in the decree, up to the date of decree and any other sum for cost.
  • In case the Defendant is allowed to defend the case against the Plaintiff, the Court may direct him to give security within a specified time and in case the Defendant defaults in payment of security within the prescribed time, then the decree will be passed in the favor of the Plaintiff.
  • In case the Defendant is granted the right to defend and also deposits the security within the reasonable time, the suit will follow the ordinary course and the Defendant will be asked to file a written statement under Order VIII.

Setting aside of Decree

The Court has the power to set aside the decree that has been passed under the provisions of Order XXXVII. This power has been enshrined on the Court by Rule 4 of Order XXXVII.

Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. gives power to the court to examine the accused

SCOPE & OBJECT OF SECTION 313, Cr.P.C:

The scope and object of examination of the accused under section 313, Cr.P.C. is:

  • To establish a direct dialogue between the court and the Accused and to put every important incriminating piece of evidence to the Accused and grant him an opportunity to answer and explain them. (Sanatan Naskar & another v. State of West Bengal; AIR 2010 SC 3507);
  • To test the veracity of the prosecution case. The examination of the Accused is not a mere formality, the questions put to the Accused and answers given by him, have great use.
  • The scope of section 313 of the Cr.P.C is wide and is not a mere formality.
  • The object of recording the statement of the accused under section 313, Cr.P.C. is to put all incriminating evidence to the Accused so as to provide him an opportunity to explain such incriminating circumstances appearing against him in the evidence of the prosecution. (Sanatan Naskar & another v. State of West Bengal; AIR 2010 SC 3507)

PURPOSE OF EXAMINING THE ACCUSED

The purpose of empowering the court to examine the Accused U/s. 313 of Cr.P.C is to meet the requirement of the principle of natural justice Audi Alteram partem (that no one should be condemned unheard). This means that the Accused may be asked to furnish some explanation as regards the incriminating circumstances associated against him and the court must take note of such explanation. In a case of circumstantial evidence, the same is necessary to decide whether or not the chain of circumstances is complete. (Raj Kumar Singh @ Raju @ Batya v. State of Rajasthan; AIR 2013 SC 3150)

METHODOLOGY FOR RECORDING THE STATEMENT

In Dharnidhar v. State of U.P. & Others; 2010 AIR SCW 5658, the court held that, the proper methodology to be adopted by the court for recording the statement of the Accused under section 313, Cr.P.C., is to invite attention of the Accused to the incriminating circumstances and evidence and invite his explanation. In other words, it provides an opportunity to the Accused to tell to the court as to what is the truth and what is his defense. 

In the case of Dehal Singh v. State of Himachal Pradesh; AIR 2010 SC 3594, the court held that, “the statement of the accused under section 313, Cr.P.C. is recorded without administering oath. Therefore, it cannot be treated as evidence within the meaning of section 3 of the Evidence Act, 1872.”

Under section 313, Cr.P.C. (1)(b), it is mandatory for the trial Judge to put to the Accused every such piece of evidence which appears incriminating against him and reply of the Accused shall be sought thereto. (State of Nagaland v. Lipok Ao; 2007 Cr.L.J. 3395 (DB) (Ajai Singh v. State of Maharashtra; AIR 2007 SC 2188).

The Accused may or may not avail the opportunity for giving his explanation. (Subhash Chandra v. State of Rajasthan; (2002) 1 SCC 701).

Attention of the accused must specifically be drawn to inculpatory pieces of evidence to give him an opportunity to offer an explanation if he chooses to do so. The Court is under legal obligation to put all incriminating circumstances before the Accused to solicit his response. This provision is mandatory in nature and casts an imperative duty on the court and confers a corresponding right on the Accused. Circumstances not put to the Accused in his examination under section 313, cannot be used against him. (State of U.P. v. Mohd. Iqram & Anr; AIR 2011 SC 2296)

“EXAMINATION U/S. 313, C.R.PC MORE THAN ONCE”

If examination of the Accused under section 313 has taken place, the court can call the Accused to answer incriminating circumstances again. There is no implied prohibition on calling upon the Accused to again answer questions. However, power to call the Accused to answer questions more than once, after conclusion of the prosecution evidence should not be used in a routine or mechanical manner. (Rajan Dwivedi v. CBI; 2008 Cri.L.J. 1440 (1447) DEL)

313 – POWER TO EXAMINE THE ACCUSED

(1) In every inquiry or trial, for the purpose of enabling the Accused personally to explain any circumstances appearing in the evidence against him, the Court

  • may at any stage, without previously warning the accused, put such questions to him as the Court considers necessary;
  • shall, after the witnesses for the prosecution have been examined and before he is called on for his defense, question him generally on the case: Provided that in a summons- case, where the Court has dispensed with the personal attendance of the accused, it may also dispense with his examination under clause (b).

(2) No oath shall be administered to the accused when he is examined under sub- section (1).

(3) The Accused shall not render himself liable to punishment by refusing to answer such questions, or by giving false answers to them.

(4) The answers given by the Accused may be taken into consideration in such inquiry or trial, and put in evidence for or against him in any other inquiry into, or trial for, any other offence which such answers may tend to show he has committed.

(5) The court may take help of Prosecutor and defense Counsel in preparing relevant questions which are to be put to the accused and the court may permit filing of written statement by the accused as sufficient compliance of this section.

S.164:- Recording of confession and statements

Any Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate may, whether or not he has jurisdiction in the case, record any confession or statement made to him in the course of an investigation under this Chapter or under any other law for the time being in force, or at any time afterwards before the commencement of the inquiry or trial.

Ingredients of Section 164 Statement:-
  1. That, any confession or statement may also be recorded by audio-video electronic means in the presence of the advocate of the person accused of an offence.
  2. That, no confession shall be recorded by a police officer on whom any power of a Magistrate has been conferred under any law for the time being in force.
  3. That, the Magistrate shall, before recording any such confession, explain to the person making it that he is not bound to make a confession and that, if he does so, it may be used as evidence against him; and the Magistrate shall not record any such confession unless, upon questioning the person making it, he has reason to believe that it is being made voluntarily.
  4. That, if the person making the statement is temporarily or permanently mentally or physically disabled, the Magistrate shall take the assistance of an interpreter or a special educator in recording the statement
  5. That, if the person making the statement is temporarily or permanently mentally or physically disabled, the statement made by the person, with the assistance of an interpreter or a special educator, shall be video graphed.
  6. That, If at any time before the confession is recorded, the person appearing before the Magistrate states that he is not willing to make the confession, the Magistrate shall not authorize the detention of such person in police custody.
  7. That, any such confession shall be recorded in the manner provided in section 281 for recording the examination of an accused person and shall be signed by the person making the confession; and the Magistrate shall make a memorandum at the foot of such record

Objective of 164 Statement:-

The object of Section 164, Criminal Procedure Code, is to provide a method of securing a reliable record of statements or confessions made during the course of the Police investigation, which could be used, if necessary, during the enquiry or trial. Under Section 25 of the Indian Evidence Act, a confession to a Police Officer is inadmissible in evidence, and hence when an accused person confesses during the Police investigation, the Police frequently get it recorded by a Magistrate under Section 164, Criminal Procedure Code, and it can then be used to the extent to which it may be admissible under the Indian Evidence Act.

Some important points:- 

  1. Statements or confessions made in the course of an investigation can be recorded only by a Magistrate of the first class or a Magistrate of the second class who has been specially empowered by the State Government.
  2. Confessions must be recorded and signed in the manner provided in Section 364.
  3. Before recording any such confession the Magistrate shall explain to the person making it that he is not bound to make a confession, and that if he does so it may be used in evidence against him.
  4. No Magistrate shall record any such confession unless upon questioning the person making it he has reason to believe that it was made voluntarily; failure to question has been held to vitiate the confession. (I.L.R. 2 Lahore 325).
  5. The memorandum set forth in Section 164(3) must be appended at the foot of the record of the confession.
  6. It is not necessary that the Magistrate receiving or recording a confession or statement should be a Magistrate having jurisdiction in the case.

Instructions for recording confessions:-

  1. Unless there are exceptional reasons to the contrary, confessions should be recorded in open Court and during Court hours. Police officers investigating the case should not be present.
  2. Accused who has made a confession should not be kept in Police custody, but should be kept in Judicial lock-up separate from other prisoners.
  3. An accused person who has made confession before a Magistrate should be sent to the judicial lock-up and not made over to the Police after the confession has been recorded. If the Police subsequently require the accused person for the investigation, a written application should be made giving reasons in detail why he is required, and an order obtained from the Magistrate for his delivery to them for the specific purposes named in the application.
  4. If an accused person, who has been produced before a Magistrate for the purposes of making a confession, has declined to make a confession or has made a statement which is unsatisfactory from the point of view of the prosecution, he should not be remanded to Police custody.
  5. When remanding to the lock-up an accused person who has made a confession, the Magistrate shall record an order for him to be kept separate from other prisoners as far as may be practicable

Difference between confession and statements:-

Statement: Any verbal communication that might implicate a suspect’s involvement in a crime. (Saying, “I always hated that guy!” or “I wasn’t even there that night!” when it is not public knowledge that the crime took place at night.)

Confession: A full admission of all material facts that are necessary to prove each element of the offence and any partial admission of one or more of the material facts that assists in proving the accused’s guilt.

Type of Confession:-

A confession may occur in many forms.

  • When it is made to the court itself then it will be called judicial confession.
  • When it is made to anybody outside the court, in that case it will be called extrajudicial confession.

It may even consist of conversation to oneself, which may be produced in evidence if overheard by another. For example, in Sahoo v. State of U.P. the accused who was charged with the murder of his daughter-in-law with whom he was always quarreling was seen on the day of the murder going out of the house, saying words to the effect “I have finished her and with her the daily quarrels.” The statement was held to be a confession relevant in evidence, for it is not necessary for the relevancy of a confession that it should be communicated to some other person.

  1. Judicial confession – Are those which are made before a magistrate or in court in the due course of legal proceedings. A judicial confession has been defined to mean “plea of guilty on arrangement (made before a court) if made freely by a person in a fit state of mind.
  2. Extra-judicial confessions – Are those which are made by the Accused elsewhere than before a magistrate or in court. It is not necessary that the statements should have been addressed to any definite individual. It may have taken place in the form of a prayer. It may be a confession to a private person. An extra-judicial confession has been defined to mean “a free and voluntary confession of guilt by a person accused of a crime in the course of conversation with persons other than judge or magistrate seized of the charge against himself. A man after the commission of a crime may write a letter to his relation or friend expressing his sorrow over the matter. This may amount to confession. Extra-judicial confession can be accepted and can be the basis of a conviction if it passes the test of credibility. Extra-judicial confession is generally made before private person which includes even judicial officer in his private capacity. It also includes a magistrate not empowered to record confessions under section 164 of the Cr.P.C. or a magistrate so empowered but receiving the confession at a stage when section 164 does not apply.

Difference Between 164, 313 & 281:-

Section 164Section 313Section 212
It deals with the recording of statements and confessions at any stage before the commencement of an enquiry or trialIt deals with the examination of accused persons during the course of the enquiry or trial and also enables the accused to appear as a defence witness during the trial and to give evidence on oath in disproof of the charges made against him or a co-accused.It prescribes the manner in which the examination of an accused person is to be recorded.  

Conclusion:-

  1. When an Accused of any offence give statement to the Magistrate under section 164 of Cr.P.C, he/she becomes the witness of the court and those statements which are recorded by the Magistrate can be used against them. Example: – Yakub Abdul Razak Memon V/s. State of Maharashtra, he gave the confession to the court and become the witness of the court.
  2. The relief of section 164 of Cr.P.C can be done by cross examination of the witness of the Magistrate under section 145 of the Indian Evidence Act.
  3. Section 145 in The Indian Evidence Act, 1872  – Cross-examination as to previous statements in writing. —A witness may be cross-examined as to previous statements made by him in writing or reduced into writing, and relevant to matters in question, without such writing being shown to him, or being proved; but, if it is intended to contradict him by the writing, his attention must, before the writing can be proved, be called to those parts of it which are to be used for the purpose of contradicting him.
  4. While recording section 164, Police officer should not be present in the court and should be done in the open court in court working hours.
  5. The statement given by the Accused can former statement and it cannot be relied upon.
  6. The statement given by the Accused can be under pressure of the Police Officer and thus, it cannot be true and correct.
  7. If the statement is not recorded as per the procedure.
  8. If the statement is given by the accused who is mentally or physically not fit & proper or not video-graph it will be not a valid statement.
  9. If the statement given by the Accused under the pressure or coercion it will be not a valid or correct statement.
  10. If the Magistrate or the Court does not have the power or Jurisdiction, the statement recorded U/s. 164 of the Cr.P.C cannot be relied upon.
  11. Thus, the statement given by the Accused Under Section.164 of the Cr.P.C can be cross-examine and be used against himself.

Judgements relating to the relief of 164 Statement are as follow:-

  1. Bisipati Padhan v/s. State in A.I.R. 1969 Orissa 289 : Ram Kishan –vs- Harmit A.I.R. 1972 SC 468, State v/s. Shriram Lohiya A.I.R. 1960 SC 490 :- A statement of a witness U/s 164 of the Code is not substantive evidence, but it is a former statement made before an authority legally competent to investigate the fact. Such a statement can be used either for corroboration of the testimony of a witness u/s 157 of the Act or for contradiction thereof u/s 145 of the Act.
  2. Sita Ram Patil v/s. Ramchandra Patil in A.I.R. 1977 SC 1712 :- Even if written admission is proved, it can be used as substantive evidence if the witness is so confronted with his previous admission in writing as per section 145 of the act.
  3. Balak Ram v/s. State of U.P. A.I.R. 1974 SC 2165, and Ram Charan v/s. State of U.P. A.I.R. 1968 SC 1270 :- Evidence of witness cannot be discarded merely because there statements were recorded under section 164 of the Code. All that is required as a matter of caution is a careful analysis of the evidence.
  4. Thumallapally –State of A.P. 1993 (2) Crimes 179 :- There is no rule of law that an earlier statement should be treated as correct and the subsequent contrary statement shall be discarded.
  5. State v/s. Kartar in A.I.R. 1970 SC 1305 :1970 Cr.L.J. 1144 :- Statements under Section 164 of the Code are not substantive evidence. But it can be used to corroborate or contradict the maker under section 145 and 157 of the Act.
  6. A.I.R. 1980 SC 628 : 1980 Cr.L.J. 439, A.I.R. 1974 SC 2165. : 1974 Cr.L.J. 1486, A.I.R. 1968 SC 1270, 1985 Cr.L.J. 367 (Cal), 1987 Cr.L.J. 242 (Allahabad) :- The evidence of a witness in a court whose statement has been previously recorded by a magistrate under section 164 of the code is always suspect, cannot be accepted as universally true and without any reservation.
  7. I.B.B.Rao v/s. State – 1985 Cr.L.J. 32 :- When it is disclosed that a witness whose statement has been recorded under section 164 was kept in police custody for several days and his whereabouts are not disclosed to the relatives, the evidence tendered by that witness in Court should not be relied upon.

Reference:-

  1. Criminal Procedure Law
  2. Evidence
  3. Indin Kanoon
  4. Manupatra

Ever since the enactment of Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996  (“Act”), Indian Legislature has been showing it’s intent to keep pace with the growing popularity of Arbitration as preferred mode of dispute resolution in commercial matters. The amendment of 2019, received the assent of the President of India on 9th August, 2019.

Timeline for making the award – Section 29A and Section 23

  • The Amendment takes the international commercial arbitrations out of the time limitations provided under Section 29A(1).
  • The Amended Act introduces Section 23 (4), which provides that statement of claim and Statement of defense shall be completed within a period of six months from the date the arbitrator received notice of their appointment.
  • Time period of one year for making of the award as provided under Section 29 A(1) shall begin from the date of completion of pleadings (statement of claim and statement of defense) only. Therefore, six month is the maximum time permissible for completion of pleading and the time period of one year for making of award shall commence irrespective of non-completion of pleadings within the said period. Conversely, if the pleading are completed before six months, the time period of one year for making of award shall commence forthwith the completion of the pleading.
  • Particularly, the time spent in filing of rejoinder [in cases without any counter claims) or rejoinder to counter claim (in cases with counter claims) will not be considered as time spent in completion of pleading under Section 23 (4)].
  • The amendment also provides that during the period an application for enlargement of time for making of award is pending before the court under Section 29 (5), the mandate of the arbitrator shall continue till disposal of the application. This amendment will help the Tribunal to continue the proceedings without waiting for court’s decision on enlargement of time for making of award under Section 29(5).
  • 2015 amendment shall only apply to arbitration proceedings commenced on or after 23rd October, 2015 and to the court proceedings arising out of or in relation to the arbitration proceedings commenced on or after 23rd October, 2015.

The 2019 amendment acts clearly aims at removing the difficulties which were being faced during the conduct of Arbitration proceedings and the court proceedings arising therefrom. With separate time frame for completion of pleading, arbitral tribunal will have full period of one year for conducting the trail and passing the award.

Procedures to be followed by the secured creditor for sale/auction under Sarfaesi Act, 2002

The SARFAESI Act, 2002 enables the banks and other financial institutions to recover the loan amounts from the borrower who has failed to repay the debts. The procedures laid down in the SARFAESI Act,2002, as well as the Security Enforcement (Rules), 2002, are mandatory, and no divulgence from the same is permitted, as held in the ITC Limited v. Blue Coast Hotels Ltd. & Ors [CIVIL APPEAL Nos. 2928-2930 OF 2018] by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The banks and other financial institutions can conduct a SARFAESI auction to sell the residential and commercial properties of the debtor to realise the loan amount. The procedures to be followed under the Act, 2002 are stated herein below.

Procedure of physical possession of the secured asset:

We already know that by utilising the SARFAESI Act, the banks and other financial institutions recover their non-performing assets (NPAs) by selling them in public auction. But, to understand the SARFAESI auction meaning properlyyou must also know the procedures that secured creditors adopt to take physical possession of the secured assets and sell them in auction.  For example, If the borrower defaults in repayment, under S. 13(2) a demand notice is to be sent by Secured Creditor to the borrower to discharge his liabilities. Such notice persists for 60 days. The demand notice shall contain details and amounts of the amount payable by the borrower. This demand notice can also be objected to by the borrower, which should be replied by the secured creditor within 15 days, and the reply should enumerate the reasons for non-acceptance of such objection. This position was clarified by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Mardia Chemicals Ltd. v. Union of India and later amended into the SARFAESI Act, as S. 13 (3A).

When the 60 day period concludes, without any discharge by the Borrower, actions can be taken by the Secured Creditor as enumerated under S. 13 (4)- wherein they can take possession of the secured assets, take over the management of the asset, appoint any person to manage the secured asset, require any person who has acquired any of the assets from the borrower to pay the secured creditor.

If you have received a notice for SBI auction SARFAESI? Well! Section 17 to 18 of the Sarfaesi Act states that the actions under S. 13 (4) are appealable. Therefore, as the borrower you can appeal the actions of the secured creditor in Debt Recovery Tribunal, DRAT, writ in High Court and SLP in Supreme Court.

Procedure of sale and auction under the Sarfaesi Act, 2002:

The SARFAESI auction rules require the banks or the financial institutions to issue a Sale Notice is required in the case of auctioning off of the secured asset if inviting tenders from the public, or by way of public auction. This sale notice shall be published in 2 leading newspapers, on the website of the secured creditor, and as per the Directions of the Ministry of Finance directions, upload the tender notice on tender.gov.in.

The notice for possession or sale of property under SARFAESI Act should be effectively served, in English and regional language newspapers with a circulation in the area as provided for in the SECURITY INTEREST (ENFORCEMENT) RULES,2002.

More particularly, the procedure for an auction of immovable assets is given in Rule 8, Security Interest (Enforcement) Rules, 2002. The methods of sale of the immovable secured assets include:

  1. by obtaining quotations from the persons dealing with similar secured assets or otherwise interested in buying such assets; or
  2. by inviting tenders from the public;
  3. by holding public auction; or
  4. by private treaty. (after the possession of the asset by a Bank or Financial Institution, they might be willing to sell it to an appropriate buyer through a private deal with a third party)

The other remedies available to secured creditors:

Section 14 of the Act, 2002 provides a provision for the assistance of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and District Magistrate in taking possession of the property. According to the Hon’ble High Court of Madras [Kathikkal Tea Plantations v. State Bank of India MANU/TN/1926/2009] has held that this provision should be given a purposive interpretation in consonance with the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the SARFAESI Act,2002. It was held that the purpose of this provision is to aid the secured creditor of obtaining possession of the asset as soon as possible, and convert a Non-Performing Asset into a source of recovery for the amount due, and transfer the secured asset to a willing third party.

However, it is pertinent to mention that all the rights and interests of symbolic and/or physical possession guaranteed to the secured creditor under the Act,2002 extinguish after the sale to the third party is complete. From the date of the registration of the sale deed, the secured creditor does not have any remedy or course of action under S. 13 or S. 14 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002.

In instances where the secured creditor is unable to claim possession over the secured asset after the expiry of the period of the demand notice under S. 13(2) of the Act,2002 specifically due to tenancy rights that might exist over the said asset, the rent or any other amount which might become due on the said secured asset from the lessee to the borrower (if any) becomes due to the secured creditor. This position was enumerated in S. 13 (4) of the Act,2002, and was solidified by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Harshad Govardham Sondgar vs International Asset Reconstruction.

Procedure regarding payment by purchaser:

In case of the HDFC auction SARFAESI, the payment for the property purchased on auction must be strictly done according to the provisions of law. The first step is determining the Reserve Price which is the minimum fair market value of the immovable asset as stipulated by the authorized officer, followed by the relevant notice according to the obligations enumerated in Rule 8 (6). The bidding process for public auction shall be done in accordance with Rule 9, Security Interest Rules, 2002 wherein the bidder shall deposit:

  • Earnest money deposit (at the time of bidding)
  • 25 per cent of the accepted sales price (including Earnest money deposit) after successful bidding
  • 75 per cent of the balance amount within 15 days of the auction.
  • Upon completion of the above, the sale certificate shall be issued to him. Otherwise, any sale by any other method other than public auction shall be on terms and conditions as decided by the parties. It is also mandated under the Security Interest Rules,2002 that the amount of sale shall not be less than the reserved price.

Legal issues are always challenging, more so when it involves complex statutes like the SARFAESI Act. Consulting a legal professional will ensure best relief since it is not easy to navigate without counsel.  So, take prompt action without any delay and get in touch with an expert legal professional.


Conclusion:

Therefore, within the four walls of the Act, 2002, the secured creditor is well protected if the correct procedure is followed. The SARFAESI Act, 2002 is one such legislation that genuinely removes unnecessary and frivolous litigation from the courts, and provides safeguard against the initiation of such litigation at the option of both, the defaulting borrower as well as the secured creditor.

SECURITIZATION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND ENFORCEMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST ACT, 2002 (ALSO KNOWN AS SARFAESI ACT) IS AN INDIAN LAW.
  1. The law has allowed the creation of asset reconstruction companies (ARC) and allowed banks to sell their Non-Performing Assets (NPAs)  
  2. It allows banks and other financial institution to auction residential or commercial properties (of defaulter) to recover loans.  
  3. The Act allow banks and other financial institutions to recuperate their NPAs or bad loans without the intervention of the Court.
  4. The Act provides three alternative methods for recovery for non-performing assets –
    • Enforcement of Security Interest under Section 13 of SARFAESI Act,
    • 2002 without the intervention of the Court.
    • Securitization Asset Reconstruction (Reconstruction & Financial)
  5. The law does not apply to unsecured loans, loans below Rs. 20, 00,000/- or where remaining debt is below 20% of the original principal.
  6. The Act was brought for recovering the amount in speedy manners in taking possession of the properties and in realizing the money.
  7. The third party who comes forward to purchase the secured asset, must have a confidence that he would get the title to the property at the earliest.
THE PROCEDURE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IS LAID DOWN UNDER SECTION. 13 –
  1. Any borrower, who makes any default in repayment of secured debt and his account in respect of such debt is classified by the secured creditor as nonperforming asset, then the secured creditor may require the borrower by notice in writing to discharge in full his liabilities to the secured creditor within 60 (sixty) days from the date of notice.  
  2. If, on receipt of the notice, the borrower makes any representation, the secured creditor shall consider such representation and if the secured creditor comes to the conclusion that such representation is not tenable, he shall communicate within 1 (one) week of receipt of such representation the reasons for non-acceptance to the borrower:
  3. In case the borrower fails to discharge his liability in full within the specified period, the secured creditor may take recourse to one or more of the following measures to recover his secured debt:
    • Take possession of the secured assets of the borrower including the right to transfer by way of lease, assignment or sale for realising the secured asset;
    • Take over the management of the business of the borrower including the right to transfer by way of lease, assignment or sale for realising the secured asset;
    • Appoint any person, to manage the secured assets the possession of which has been taken over by the secured creditor;
    • Require at any time by notice in writing, any person who has acquired any of the secured assets from the borrower and from whom any money is due or may become due to the borrower, to pay the secured creditor
  4. Where dues of the secured creditor are not fully satisfied with the sale proceeds of the secured assets, the secured creditor may also file an application to the Debts Recovery Tribunal or a competent court, as the case may be.
  5. The secured creditor shall be further entitled to proceed against the guarantors or sell the pledged assets without first taking any of the aforementioned measures.
SECTION 14 REQUIRES CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE OR DISTRICT MAGISTRATE TO ASSIST SECURED CREDITOR IN TAKING POSSESSION OF SECURED ASSET.

Section 14 states that it enable the secured creditors to take the assistants of the chief Metropolitan Magistrate or District Magistrate in taking possession of secured assets.

It also states that where the possession of any secured assets is required to be taken by the secured creditor or if any of the secured assets is required to be sold or transferred by the secured creditor, the secured creditor may, for the purpose of taking possession or control of any such secured assets, request, in writing, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the District Magistrate within whose jurisdiction any such secured asset or other documents relating thereto may be situated or found, to take possession thereof, and the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or as the case may be, the District Magistrate shall, on such request being made to him possession of the such Assets and documents relating thereto and forward such assets and documents to the secured creditor

This section states that the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the District Magistrate may take or cause to the taken such a steps and use, or caused to be used, such force, as may, in his opinion, be necessary for the purpose of securing assets of secured creditors. No act of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the District Magistrate done in pursuance of this section shall be called in question in any court or before any authority.

CAN THE BANK / FINANCIAL INSTITUTION FILE THE AFFIDAVIT WITH DM / CMM FOR TAKING POSSESSION OF THE SECURED ASSETS DURING THE PENDENCY OF ANY WRIT PETITION ?

Amendment to SARFAESI Act introduced in the year 2013 brought out certain changes in the Act. Wherein, under section 14 compulsory filing of an Affidavit by the secured creditor through their authorized officer with the District Magistrate Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, so the case may to take possession of the secured asset in introduced.

If any writ petition is pending in high court and if any possession notice has been served during the pendency of the writ petition, then the act of issuing a possession notice by the Authorized Officer is an illegal act and such possession notice cannot be maintained under the law.

CAN DISTRICT MAGISTRATE / METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE CAN PASS ANY ORDER REGARDING THE COMPLIANCE OF THE PROVISIONS OF SARFAESI ACT AS ENUMERATED U/S 14 OF THE SAID ACT SETTING ASIDE THE REQUEST OF THE AUTHORISED OFFICER FOR TAKING POSSESSION OF THE ALLEGED SECURED ASSETS?

Section 14 (1) of SARFAESI Act states “Provided further that on receipt of the affidavit from the Authorized Officer, the District Magistrate or the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be, shall after satisfying the contents of the affidavit pass suitable orders for the purpose of taking possession of he secured asset.”  The usage of the word “SHALL” in the provisions of the Act makes it mandatory to follow the provisions of the Act strictly without any dilution. Hence, the District Magistrate / chief Metropolitan Magistrate as the case may be, can reject the affidavit filed by the Authorized Officer if he is not satisfied with the contents of the affidavit by giving reasons for his rejection and instruct the Authorized Officer to resubmit the affidavit by duly making necessary and required corrections in the affidavit as per the observation of the District Magistrate / Metropolitan Magistrate.

Since the compliance of section 13 (2), 13 (4) and Rule 8 are mandatory for the secured creditor to implement them, any order of the District Magistrate / Chief Metropolitan Magistrate without reference to the compliance of the aforesaid sections of SARFAESI Act, it must be presumed that no materials are placed before the District Magistrate / Chief Judicial Magistrate by the secured creditor in respect of the compliance. Further, the affidavit filed by the authorized officer should not only include the statements supported by various evidences in favor of having complied with the provisions of section 14 which includes section 13 (2), section 13 (4) and Rule 8 of the Act but also substantiated by the relevant RBI circulars and legal citations. The compliance, If not proved without any reasonable doubt, then the proceedings are unsustainable in the eye of law, as it would amount to arbitrary exercise of the powers conferred under section

CAN THE ORDER OF DISTRICT MAGISTRATE / METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE BE CHALLENGED?

There is no dispute that any person, including a borrower, aggrieved by any of the measures referred to in sub-section (4) of section 13  of the  SARFAESI Act  has a right to prefer an appeal under section 17 before the Debt Recovery Tribunal.

It is a settled proposition of law that alternative remedy is no bar from filing a writ petition in cases where there has been  denial of natural justice  or if an action is without jurisdiction or there is a challenge to the vires of any statute.”

It is imperative that as per the Act on receipt of the affidavit from the Authorized Officer, the District Magistrate or the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate shall have to be satisfied with regard to the contents of the affidavit and thereafter shall pass orders and however, if same is totally absent in the order under challenge “there is no reason whatsoever in support of the order. It is cryptic.”  If the order does not spell out the reasons for making such an order, it amounts to the violation of the principles of natural justice.

Introduction                             

The insolvency and bankruptcy code, 2016 (IBC) is the bankruptcy law of India which seeks to consolidate the existing framework by creating a single law for insolvency and bankruptcy. The insolvency and bankruptcy code, 2015 was introduced in Lok Sabha in December 2015. It was passed by Lok Sabha on 5th May, 2016 and by Rajya Sabha on 11th May, 2016. The code received the assent of the President of India on 28th May, 2016.

The bankruptcy code is a one stop solution for resolving insolvencies which previously was a long process that did not offer an economically viable arrangement. The code aims to protect the interests of small investors and make the process of doing business less cumbersome. Applicability and a brief description about the insolvency resolution process for corporate entities.

Who does it apply to?

The IBC applies to the following:

  • Any company incorporated under the companies act, 2013;
  • Any other company incorporated by any special statute;
  • Any limited liability partnership (“LLP”) firm registered under the limited liabilities partnership act, 2008;
  • Any partnership registered under the partnership act, 1932;
  • And any individual person.

When will an insolvency resolution process trigger?

An insolvency resolution process under the IBC can be initiated by any creditor in the event there is a minimum default of INR 1,00,00,000 (Rupees One Crores only) of such creditor’s debt by the debtor. Such an application can be filed by an operational creditor or a financial creditor before the National Company Law Tribunal (“NCLT”) of the relevant jurisdiction. The NCLT will consider the following elements before admitting such an application:

  • Existence of a debt;
  • Existence of default; and
  • Notice of default (in the event the application is filed by an operational creditor).

An appeal from any order or judgment of the NCLT, within the time specified therein, will lie with the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (“NCLAT”). Further, appeals from the NCLAT will lie with the Supreme Court.

A creditor, for the purposes of the IBC may be an operational creditor or a financial creditor. A debtor is any entity or an individual who owes any liability or obligation in respect of a claim which is due from any person and includes a financial debt and operational debt. If the debtor is either a company or an LLP, then such a debtor is referred to as a corporate debtor.

Default is defined as non-payment of debt when whole or any part or installment of the amount of debt has become due and payable but has not been repaid by the debtor.

Categories of creditors under the IBC:-

The IBC provides for 2 (two) main categories of creditors i.e.

Financial creditor; and Operation creditors.

  • Financial creditors:-  A financial creditor is any person to whom a financial debt is owed and includes a person to whom such debt has been legally assigned or transferred to; A financial debt is a debt along with interest, if any, which is disbursed against the consideration for the time value of money (time value of money refers to the concept that money acquired sooner or held onto longer has a greater worth or potential worth due to the possible accumulation of interest or return on investment). The following is an indicative list of what may be considered as a financial debt.
  1. Money borrowed against repayment of interest.
  2. Any amount raised against any accepted credit facility.
  3. Any amount raised pursuant to any-note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument;
  4. The amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which is deemed as a finance or capital lease under the Indian accounting standards or such other accounting standards as may be prescribed;
  5. Receivables sold or discounted other than any receivables sole or non-recourse basis.
  6. Any amount raised under any other transaction, including any forward sale or purchase agreement, having the commercial effect of a borrowing;
  7. Any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price and for calculating the value of any derivative transaction, only the market value of such transaction shall be taken inti- account; Any counter – indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bound, documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution;

Financial creditors may either be secured creditors or unsecured creditors. The main difference between secured and unsecured financial creditors is that in the event of liquidation and asset distribution proceedings, secured creditors are given a higher priority than unsecured creditors. Further, during the liquidation process, secured financial creditors are given the same priority of repayment as workmen and employee dues and are given a higher priority that other operational creditors, who are treated as unsecured creditors for the purposes of liquidation.

When compared to operational creditors, the procedure for financial creditors to initiate insolvency proceedings is a lot easier. The IBC allows financial creditors to make an application to the NCLT directly and such financial creditors will only need to show that there is a default. It is also important to note that only financial creditors constitute the committee of creditors, and no operational creditor can be part of this committee.

  • Operational Creditors: The term operational creditor has been defined as any person to whom operational debt is owed and includes any person to whom such debt has been legally assigned or transferred.

Operational debt has been defined in the IBC as a claim in respect of the provision of goods or services, including employment or debt in respect of the repayment of dues arising under any law for time being in force and payable to the Central Government, any State Government or any local authority.

The Supreme court, in the case of Mobilix Innovations Pvt. Ltd v. Kirusa Software Private Limited held that while determining if a dispute exists with the debtor with regards to the payment of any debt, the NCLT will be required to see only if there is a dispute and that the NCLT may not go into the merits of such dispute.

How does the corporate insolvency resolution process work?

During this process, the financial creditors investigate the corporate debtor to determine whether it is viable to continue its business. The creditors also come up with a plan to restructure the corporate debtor. The various steps involved in a CIRP are:

  • Application to the NCLT: The creditor will need to file an application with the NCLT for initiating insolvency resolution proceedings. The NCLT shall be required to either accept or reject the application within 14 days of filing the application.
  • Initiation of the insolvency process and suspension of management: Once the application has been accepted by the NCLT, the management of the debtor is suspended and the intermediate authority, appointed by the NCLT and referred to as the ‘interim insolvency resolution professional’ takes over the management of the corporate debtor. Further, as soon the application for CIRP is admitted by the NCLT, a moratorium takes effect on the corporate debtor, which prohibits the continuation or initiation of any legal proceedings against the debtor, the transfer of its assets, or the enforcement of any security interest.
  • Appointment of the committee of creditors: The interim resolution professional investigates the claims made by the creditors and constitutes the committee of creditors within 30 days of the NCLT admitting the application for CIRP.
  • Appointment of the resolution process: The committee of creditors then appoints an independent person as the resolution professional, referred to as the Insolvency Resolution Professional (“IRP”) to take over the management of the corporate debtor for the remainder of the CIRP.
  • Approval of the resolution plan: Within 180 days of the initiation of the CIRP, the IRP is required to draw up a resolution plan for the revival of the corporate debtor. Such a plan needs to be approved by creditors holding at least 75% of the debt of the corporate debtor.
  • Liquidation Process:  In the event that the CIRP fails, the financial creditors have the option to wind up the corporate debtor and liquidate and distribute its assets in the order of liquidation preference prescribed under the IBC.

CONCLUSION:

The IBC has taken its first steps to regularize the insolvency process in India. However legislation has been ridden with controversies and speedy resolutions. It has also become a very important tool for banks to regularize multitudes of non-performing assets.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (Domestic Violence Act) is enacted to protect the rights of women. The Domestic Violence Act not only covers those women who are or have been in a relationship with the abuser but it also covers those women who have lived together in a shared household and are related by consanguinity, marriage or through a relationship in the nature of marriage or adoption. Even those women who are sisters, widows, mothers, single women, or living in any other relationship with the abuser are entitled to legal protection under the Domestic Violence Act.

Who can file a complaint under the Domestic Violence Act?

Section 2(a) of the Domestic Violence Act defines “aggrieved person” as any woman who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the Abuser and who alleges to have been subjected to any act of domestic violence by the Abuser.

Women in Live in relationships covered under the Act:

This act has a wider meaning to “aggrieved person” which includes women in live in relationships. Supreme Court of India in the case of D. Veluswamy v. D. Patchaiammal has enumerated ingredients of live in relationships as follows:

  1. They must be of a valid legal age of marriage
  2. They should qualify to enter into marriage eg. None of the partner should have a spouse living at the time of entering into relationship.
  3. They must have voluntarily cohabited for a significant period of time
  4. They must have lived together in a shared household

What is shared household?

The term shared household is defined under the Domestic Violence Act as a household where the person aggrieved lives or at any stage has lived in a domestic relationship with the abuser and includes such a household whether owned or tenanted either jointly by the aggrieved person and the abuser, or owned or tenanted by either of them in respect of which either the aggrieved person or the abuser or both jointly or singly have any right, title, interest or equity and includes such a household which may belong to the joint family of which the abuser is a member, irrespective of whether the abuser or the aggrieved person has any right, title or interest in the shared household.

Types of abuse under the Domestic Violence Act

  • Physical Abuse: Physical abuse is the use of physical force against a woman in a way   that   causes   her   bodily   injury   or   hurt.   Physical   assault,   criminal  intimidation   and   criminal   force   are   also   forms of   physical   abuse   like  beating,   kicking   and   punching,   throwing objects,   damaging   property,  punched   walls,   kicked   doors, abandoning   her   in   a   dangerous   or  unfamiliar place, using a weapon to threaten or hurt her, forcing her to leave the matrimonial home, hurting her children, using physical force in  sexual situations.
  • Sexual Abuse: This is also a form of physical abuse. Any situation in which a woman is forced to participate in unwanted safe or degrading sexual activity, calling her sexual names, hurting a woman with objects and weapons during sex is sexual abuse.
  • Verbal and Emotional Abuse: Many women suffer from   emotional   abuse,   which   is   no   less   destructive.  Unfortunately, emotional abuse is often minimized or overlooked – even by the woman being   abused. Emotional abuse includes   verbal abuse such as yelling, name-calling,   blaming   and   shaming, isolation,   intimidation   and controlling behaviour also fall under emotional abuse. Calls her names, insults her or continually criticizing her also come under verbal and emotional abuse.
  • Economic Abuse: Economic abuse is not a very recognized form of abuse among the women   but   it   is   very   detrimental. Economic   abuse   mainly   includes   a woman   not   been   provided   with   enough   money   by   her   partner   to  maintain herself and her children, which may comprise money for food,  clothing,   medicines etc. and  not allowing a woman to take up an employment. Forcing   her   out   of   the   house   where she   lives   and   not providing her rent, in case of a rented share hold also amounts to abuse. Disposing or alienating the assets of the women   whether   movable   or   immovable,   valuables,   shares,   securities, bonds and the like other property in which she may have an interest also comes under economic abuse.

Procedure involved under the Act:

Step 1 – Informing the protection officer:

Any person who has reason to believe that domestic violence has been or is likely to be inflicted upon her can inform about the same to a protection officer appointed under Section 8(1) of the Act. It would be better if such a protection officer is a woman herself.

Such women would be informed of her rights by the protection officer, a police officer, service providers (any voluntary association registered under law working with the objective of protecting the rights and interests of women), or a magistrate who has received the complaint or was present when the offence occurred. These rights are:

  • Such women have a right to make an application obtaining relief in the form of protection order, monetary relief, custody order, residence order, compensation order.
  • They also have a right to make use of the service provided by the available service providers.
  • They also have a right to make use of the services provided by the protection officers.
  • They have a right to free legal services under the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987.
  • They also have a right to file a criminal case under Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code.

It must also be mentioned here that if the appointed protection officer does not perform her/his duties she/he can be liable to imprisonment upto 1 year and fine upto Rs. 20,000.

Step 2 – Making a domestic incident report by the protection officer:

Upon receipt of domestic violence complaints, the protection officer must make a domestic incident report to the Magistrate. This report should also claim relief for a protection order if the aggrieved person desires. Such magistrate ( to whom the report is made) would be Magistrate of 1st class or the Metropolitan Magistrate who is exercising jurisdiction in the area where:

  • The aggrieved person resides temporarily,
  • Respondent resides, or
  • The place where domestic violence allegedly took place.

The copies of the report should also be forwarded to the Police Officer in charge of the Police station within local limits of which the domestic violence allegedly took place. Apart from this, it is the duty of the protection officers to ensure that the aggrieved person gets all benefits as mentioned as her rights and maintains a list of the service providers, shelter homes and medical facilities in an area.

Step 3 – Application with the magistrate:

Once an application is filed to the magistrate on by the aggrieved person, someone on the behalf of the aggrieved person or a protection officer, the magistrate will fix the date of the first hearing. Such a date is usually not beyond three days from the date of receipt of an application by the magistrate. Also, the magistrate will endeavor to dispose of the application made within 60 days from the first hearing.

Step 4 – Notice to the respondent:

Once the date of the first hearing has been set by the magistrate, a notice shall be given to the protection officer who shall inform the informant and any other person, prescribed by the magistrate. This shall be done by the protection officer within 2 days from the date of receipt unless an extension is given by the magistrate.

Step 5 – Other options that the magistrate can make use of:

Under Section 14 of the Act, the magistrate may ask the Abuser or the aggrieved party (singly or jointly) to undergo counselling with a member of the service provider. Such a person must have experience in counselling.

Under Section 15 of the Act, the magistrate can take the help of a person, preferably a woman, for discharging his functions. Such a person should preferably be working in the promotion of family welfare.

Step 6 – Giving Orders:
Protection Order

If after hearing both the parties, the magistrate is satisfied that domestic violence took place, the magistrate can pass a protection order in favour of the aggrieved party. Such protection order restricts the respondent from:

  1. Committing the act of domestic violence.
  2. Abetting in the commission of domestic violence.
  3. Entering the place of employment, school, etc. of the aggrieved person.
  4. Attempting to communicate with the aggrieved person.
  5. Alienate any assets, bank accounts or lockers enjoyed by either both the parties or the respondent singly, including her Sridharan.
  6. Causing violence to any person who helped the aggrieved person and provided protection from domestic violence.
  7. Committing any other act which is specified in the order given.
Residence Order
  • The Magistrate may also pass the Residence Order. Such order may:
  • Restrain the respondent from dispossessing or distributing the possessions of the aggrieved person.
    • Direct the respondent to remove himself from the shared household.
    • Restrain the respondent or any of his relatives from entering the shared household of the parties where the aggrieved person resides.
    • Restrain the respondent from renouncing his rights in the shared household.
    • Restrain the respondent from disposing off the shared household.
Monetary Relief

The magistrate may also direct the respondent to pay monetary relief to the aggrieved person for expenses incurred and losses suffered by her. Such relief may include (but is not limited to):

  1. Loss of earnings;
  2. Medical expenses;
  3. Loss caused due to destruction and damage of any property;
  4. Maintenance for the aggrieved person and her children.
Custody Order

The magistrate may also grant the custody of a child or children to the aggrieved person or person making an application on her behalf. He may also specify the visitation arrangements as well. In case he feels that visitation by the respondent would be harmful to the child, the magistrate may even refuse to allow such a visit.

Compensation Orders

The magistrate may also pass an order directing the respondent to pay compensation to the aggrieved person for the injuries, mental torture and emotional distress caused to her because of the domestic violence.

In case the magistrate feels it is necessary and is satisfied that the respondent has caused domestic violence and may continue to do so in the future, he may also pass interim and ex-parte orders.

Step 7 – Steps to take in case of breach of the order given

In case there is a breach of the protection order given by the magistrate, the contemnor shall be liable with punishment upto a term extending to one year, or fine (at maximum 20,000 Rupees)

Duty of the court while dealing with cases under the Act:

In the case of Krishna Bhatacharjee vs Sarathi Choudhury And Anr., the court laid down some guidelines that all courts must follow while dealing with a case under this Act. These are:

  • The court must give the decision keeping in mind that the helpless aggrieved person has approached the court in compelling circumstances.
  • It should also be ensured that the court scrutinizes the facts from all angles. It must take efforts to ensure whether the plea advanced by the respondent to nullify the grievances of the aggrieved person is legally and factually correct.
  • The court of law must uphold the truth and aim at delivering proper justice
  • Before throwing a petition at the threshold on the grounds of maintainability, the court must see that the aggrieved person is not faced with a situation of non-adjudication.

Criticism of the Act

The law is not free of criticism. People have criticised it on some of the following grounds:

Some people have criticised the law on the basis of it being only civil, instead of both civil and criminal as it was meant to be. The criminal part of the law only gets triggered when the act of domestic violence is accompanied by some other offence, like not following the protection order given by the court.

As per the Act, the authority responsible for effective implementation of the Act is a Protection Officer, who is identified by the State Government. Such an officer is assigned the major role of assisting the court, initiating action on behalf of the aggrieved and looking after the services required by the victim like medical help, counselling, legal aid, etc. However, the people appointed under the Act are people who are in practice not working full time. Most of the time, in fact, this duty is given as an additional charge to those who are already in Government services. These people are mostly not qualified to fit into this role.

Many people have said that this law assumes men to be the sole perpetrators of domestic violence. Thus, by allowing only women to file a complaint about domestic violence, this law violates Article 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution and discriminates against men.


Conclusion

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 which was implemented in October 2006 is very promising legislation that combines civil remedies and criminal procedures to provide effective remedies to the women who become victims of domestic violence. The act provides for protection officers, medical facilities, free of cost orders, etc. which helps the aggrieved women in protecting themselves and their loved ones.

However, the Act is not free of certain problems. Clearly, the implementation of the Act needs to be made more concrete. The Human Rights Watch has found that police often do not file a First Information Report (FIR), i.e, the first step to initiating a police investigation, especially if the aggrieved person is from an economically or socially backward community. Most of the domestic violence, sexual violence, and marital rape cases in India never go reported. Lack of trained counsellors who can help domestic abuse victims and little access to legal aid also adds to the misery of these victims. Issues like these need to be solved so as to ensure that women get the justice they truly deserve.

The content of this document do not necessarily reflect the views / position of RKS Associate, but remains a probable view. For any further queries or follow up please contact RKS Associate at [email protected]