Consider not shifting Debt Recovery Tribunal from South Mumbai, High Court tells finance ministry

"Though on paper the move to shift Debt Recovery Tribunal to Vashi from Fort is right because of space crunch, it is not a workable solution," the Bombay High Court observed on Friday. The court has told the union ministry of finance to search for a location in South Mumbai itself.

A division bench of justices VM Kanade and MS Sonak said, "Don't make it a prestige issue and consider looking for an alternative. The bar and the bench are two sides of the same coin and their problems should be resolved amicably."

The observation was made during the hearing of a petition filed by the Bar Association of DRT, which has challenged the ministry's decision to shift the tribunal to Vashi. The bench has asked the ministry to take suggestions from the association and visit the suggested location and file a report on whether it is feasible.

The association is against the ministry's move of shifting DRT III to Vashi. The logic behind the decision is that after inspection many buildings were found not suitable for housing DRT for various reasons.

The petition claimed that the ministry is spending 50% more than what is otherwise available in the vicinity of the present DRT in South Mumbai. It is in the interest of justice, equity and fair play that the ministry be restrained from taking any decision to transfer the present DRT III, it added.

Further, it prayed that the ministry be restrained from entering into and executing any lease deed and from finalising any proposal with regard to the Vashi premises.