Section 30D of The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002
1[30D. Recovery of penalties.--(1) Any penalty imposed under section 30A shall be recovered as a "recoverable sum" and shall be payable within a period of thirty days fromthe date on which notice demanding payment of the recoverable sum is served upon the person in default and, in the case of failure of payment by such person within such period, the Reserve Bank may, for the purpose of recovery,--
- (a)debit the current account, if any, of the person in default maintained with the Reserve Bank or by liquidating the securities, if any, held to the credit of such person in the books of the Reserve Bank;
- (b)issue a notice to the person from whom any amount is due to the person in default, requiring such person to deduct from the amount payable by him to the person in default, such amount equivalent to the amount of the recoverable sum, and to make payment of such amount to the Reserve Bank.
- (2)Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (4), a notice issued under clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be binding on every person to whom it is issued, and, where such notice is issued to a post office, bank or an insurance company, it shall not be necessary to produce any pass book, deposit receipt, policy or any other document for the purpose of any entry or endorsement thereof before payment is made, notwithstanding any rule, practice or requirement to the contrary.
- (3)Any claim in respect of any amount, arising after the date of issue of notice under sub-section (1) shall be void as against the demand contained in such notice.
- (4)Any person, to whom the notice is sent under sub-section (1), objects to such notice by a statement on oath that the sum demanded or any part thereof is not due to the person in default or that he does not hold any money for or on account of the person in default, then nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to require, such person to pay such sum or part thereof, as the case may be.
- (5)Where it is found that statement made by the person under sub-section (4) is false in material particulars, such person shall be personally liable to the Reserve Bank to the extent of his own liability to the person in default on the date of the notice, or to the extent of the recoverable sum payable by the person in default to the Reserve Bank, whichever is less.
- (6)The Reserve Bank may, at any time, amend or revoke any notice issued under sub-section (1) or extend the time for making the payment in pursuance of such notice.
- (7)The Reserve Bank shall grant a receipt for any amount paid to it in compliance with a notice issued under this section and the person so paying shall be fully discharged from his liability to the person in default to the extent of the amount so paid.
- (8)Any person discharging any liability to the person in default after the receipt of a notice under this section shall be personally liable to the Reserve Bank--
- (a)to the extent of his own liability to the person in default so discharged; or
- (b)to the extent of the recoverable sum payable by the person in default to the Reserve Bank, whichever is less.
- (9)Where the person to whom the notice is sent under this section, fails to make payment in pursuance thereof to the Reserve Bank, he shall be deemed to be the person in default in respect of the amount specified in the notice and action or proceedings may be taken or instituted against him for the realisation of the amount in the manner provided in this section.
- (10)The Reserve Bank may enforce recovery of recoverable sum through the principal civil court having jurisdiction in the area where the registered office or the head office or the principal place of business of the person in default or the usual place of residence of such person is situated as if the notice issued by the Reserve Bank were a decree of the Court.
- (11)No recovery under sub-section (10) shall be enforced, except on an application made to the principal civil court by an officer of the Reserve Bank authorised in this behalf certifying that the person in default has failed to pay the recoverable sum.]
Summary
- If a person fails to pay a penalty within thirty days of a notice, the Reserve Bank can forcibly recover it.
- The Reserve Bank can directly take money out of the defaulter's bank account or sell their securities.
- The Reserve Bank can order a third party who owes money to the defaulter (like a bank or client) to pay that money directly to the Reserve Bank instead.
- If the third party swears under oath that they do not owe the defaulter any money, they do not have to pay, but lying on this oath makes the third party personally liable for the debt.
- Any third party who receives this order from the Reserve Bank and still pays the defaulter instead is personally liable to the Reserve Bank.
- If necessary, the Reserve Bank can get a certificate to enforce the recovery through a regular civil court, treating it like a final court judgment.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Can the Reserve Bank just take the penalty money from my bank account?
Yes. If you fail to pay within thirty days, the Reserve Bank has the power to debit your current account directly or liquidate securities.
2. What happens if a third party gets a notice from the Reserve Bank but pays the defaulter anyway?
The third party becomes personally responsible for paying the Reserve Bank out of their own pocket, up to the amount they paid the defaulter.
3. What if the Reserve Bank targets a third party, but the third party actually owes nothing?
The third party can provide a sworn statement on oath stating they owe nothing. Once they do, they are off the hook, provided they are telling the truth.
4. Can the Reserve Bank take me to a regular civil court for the penalty?
Yes. The Reserve Bank can file an application in the principal civil court where you live or work to enforce the debt like a court decree.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 30D of The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, how much time does a defaulter have to pay a demand notice for a recoverable sum before the Reserve Bank forces recovery?
Q2.Under Section 30D of The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, what can the Reserve Bank do to a third party who owes money to the defaulter?
Q3.Under Section 30D of The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, what happens if a third party falsely swears on oath that they do not owe the defaulter any money?
Q4.Under Section 30D of The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, if a third party receives a notice from the Reserve Bank but still hands the money over to the defaulter, what is the consequence?
Q5.Section 30D of The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 outlines how to recover a penalty that was originally imposed under Section 30A. If the Reserve Bank decides to enforce this recovery through a court, which court do they go to?