The Department of Financial Services (DFS), under the Ministry of Finance, organised a high-level colloquium of Chairpersons of Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs) and Presiding Officers of Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) on December 30, 2025, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The event focused on enhancing the efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of the debt recovery framework through digitisation, legal reforms, and capacity building.
Senior Officials and Stakeholder Participation
The colloquium was addressed by the Secretary, DFS, and witnessed participation from senior officers of the Department of Financial Services, representatives from public and private sector banks, and officials from the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). The gathering provided a platform for judicial officers and banking stakeholders to deliberate on systemic challenges and solutions related to recovery through DRTs.
Push for Digitisation of Tribunals
In his address, the Secretary, DFS highlighted key initiatives undertaken by the Department to deepen digitisation across tribunals in order to streamline processes and improve efficiency. These initiatives include:
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Mandatory e-filing of cases
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Increased use of video conferencing
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Adoption of hybrid hearing models
These measures aim to reduce procedural delays, enhance accessibility, and ensure faster resolution of cases.
Key Areas of Discussion
The colloquium featured wide-ranging discussions on improving the recovery ecosystem. Major focus areas included:
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Strengthening monitoring and oversight mechanisms of banks to enhance recovery through DRTs
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Focused attention on high-value cases to optimise recovery outcomes
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Optimum utilisation of Lok Adalats as an effective Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism for speedy disposal of cases
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Process reforms to improve case disposal rates in DRTs
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Capacity building initiatives, including structured training programmes for Presiding Officers, Recovery Officers, Registrars, and authorised officers of banks
Deliberations on Legal Reforms
Participants also deliberated on proposed amendments to key legislations governing recovery proceedings, including:
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The Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993
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The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002
The discussions focused on further strengthening these laws to enhance their effectiveness in addressing evolving recovery challenges.
Sharing Best Practices Across Tribunals
During the colloquium, DRTs were encouraged to learn from best practices adopted by other tribunals that have demonstrated impressive disposal rates. Emphasis was laid on replication of successful models to improve overall tribunal performance nationwide.
Conclusion
The DFS-organised colloquium marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s debt recovery framework through digitisation, legal reform, and capacity enhancement. By fostering collaboration between tribunals, banks, and policymakers, the initiative aims to ensure faster resolution of cases, improved recovery outcomes, and a more robust financial ecosystem.
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Source: PIB
