Whether the DRT has the power to grant an extension of time as per Sec. 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 to file a written statement under Section 19(5) of the Recovery of the Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993 – Om Shiv Estate Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Punjab National Bank – DRAT Mumbai
Hon’ble DRAT held that:
(i) As per Section 19(5) of the Recovery of the Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993 , the Presiding Officer can grant only one extension that too of only fifteen days to file the written statement in exceptional cases or special circumstances by reasons recorded in writing.
(ii) A written statement cannot be received beyond the stipulated time or extended time mentioned in Sec. 19(5)(i) of RDB Act.
(iii) The Appellants cannot resort to the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Suo Moto Writ Petition No. 3 of 2020 to get the time extended because the time for filing the written had expired long before the onset of the pandemic and hence, no extension is possible.