#Collector jurisdiction

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that Collectors have no authority to override a secured creditor’s possession action under Section 13(4) of the SARFAESI Act, reinforcing that borrowers’ only recourse lies before the Debt Recovery Tribunal. This clarifies a key jurisdictional boundary, preventing administrative interference in bank-led recovery processes and strengthening creditor autonomy under the Act.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court ruled that Collectors acting under Section 11 of the Punjab Village Common Lands Act cannot dismiss title disputes summarily on res judicata grounds without framing issues and evaluating evidence. The judgment reinforces quasi-judicial obligations, impacting landowners, Gram Panchayats, and revenue authorities in Punjab and Haryana.