Government debt in India is not entitled to precedence over a prior Secured Debt – IndusInd Bank Ltd. Vs. Sales Tax Officer & Ors. – DRAT Mumbai

DRAT held that the Hon’ble Bombay High Court has in Axis Bank Ltd. vs. State of Maharashtra 2017 SCC OnLine Bom 274 held that the Bank has priority over the statutory dues claimed by the State under Sec. 38 C of the Bombay Sales Tax Act. Under the circumstances, it has to be concluded that government debt in India is not entitled to precedence over a prior secured debt, more particularly where such a secured debt is protected by a specific statute like the RDDB & FI Act or the SARFAESI Act. The impugned judgment is, therefore, to be set aside and I do so. The appeal is allowed and the impugned order dated 27.02.2009 in M.A. No. 03 of 2007 is set aside and the M.A. is dismissed.

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