1. Statutory Framework: RDB Act 1993 & SARFAESI Act 2002

Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act (RDB Act), 1993

The RDB Act, 1993 provides for the establishment of Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) with original jurisdiction and Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs) with appellate jurisdiction, for expeditious adjudication and recovery of debts due to banks and financial institutions, insolvency resolution and bankruptcy of individuals and partnership firms and connected matters therewith.

The Act aims to safeguard the interest of banks and financial institutions as lenders, while not discouraging borrowers. The Tribunals have not yet commenced taking up insolvency resolution and bankruptcy matters as the related provisions are not yet in force.

Statutory Debt Threshold: The Act is applicable to cases where the amount of debt due to any bank or financial institution defined under the Act or a consortium of banks or financial institutions is ₹20 Lakh or more.
Click here for the full RDB Act and Amendments (IndiaCode)

Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interests Act (SARFAESI Act), 2002

The SARFAESI Act, 2002 aims to regulate securitisation and reconstruction of financial assets and enforcement of security interest and to provide for a Central database of security interests created on property rights and for connected matters therewith. The Act has simplified the recovery procedure for banks and specified financial institutions for recovery of secured debts from borrowers without intervention of Courts at the first stage.

Borrowers can file applications in the Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) against action taken for enforcement of security interest under this Act (Section 17 SA within 45 days), with the appellate jurisdiction for such applications lying with the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs).

Statutory Applicability Thresholds: The Act is applicable to cases where security interest for securing repayment of any financial asset is more than ₹1 Lakh AND the amount due is 20% or more of the principal amount and interest thereon.
Statutory Exclusions: The Act is NOT applicable to any security interest created in agricultural land and certain properties not liable to attachment under specified Acts.

2. Territorial Jurisdiction of 5 DRATs & 39 DRTs in India

India is divided into 5 Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs), each exercising appellate jurisdiction over designated single-member Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) as detailed below:

Appellate Tribunal (DRAT) Jurisdictional DRTs Coverage (39 Total)
DRAT Allahabad (6 DRTs) DRT Allahabad, DRT Dehradun, DRT Jabalpur, DRT Lucknow, DRT Patna, DRT Ranchi
DRAT Chennai (9 DRTs) DRT Chennai-1, DRT Chennai-2, DRT Chennai-3, DRT Bengaluru-1, DRT Bengaluru-2, DRT Coimbatore, DRT Ernakulam-1, DRT Ernakulam-2, DRT Madurai
DRAT Delhi (7 DRTs) DRT Delhi-1, DRT Delhi-2, DRT Delhi-3, DRT Chandigarh-1, DRT Chandigarh-2, DRT Chandigarh-3, DRT Jaipur
DRAT Kolkata (9 DRTs) DRT Kolkata-1, DRT Kolkata-2, DRT Kolkata-3, DRT Hyderabad-1, DRT Hyderabad-2, DRT Visakhapatnam, DRT Siliguri, DRT Cuttack, DRT Guwahati
DRAT Mumbai (8 DRTs) DRT Mumbai-1, DRT Mumbai-2, DRT Mumbai-3, DRT Ahmedabad-1, DRT Ahmedabad-2, DRT Aurangabad, DRT Nagpur, DRT Pune

Official Contact Directory & Addresses of All 39 DRTs in India

Official e-DRT Portal (drt.gov.in)

Official address details, contact phone numbers, official email IDs, and territorial legal jurisdiction for all 39 Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) across India, categorized by their respective 5 Appellate DRAT Benches:

# DRT Bench Name Official Address & Contact Details Territorial Jurisdiction
DRAT ALLAHABAD ZONE (6 DEBTS RECOVERY TRIBUNALS)
1 DRT Allahabad 4/6, Kutchery Road, Behind District Court, Allahabad (Prayagraj) - 211002
Tel: 0532-2465355 / 2465356 | Email: drtallld-bih@nic.in		 Eastern Uttar Pradesh districts
2 DRT Dehradun 53/1, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand - 248001
Tel: 0135-2740263 / 2740264 | Email: drtdehradun-dfs@nic.in		 State of Uttarakhand & Western UP districts
3 DRT Jabalpur 154, Napier Town, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh - 482001
Tel: 0761-2405544 / 2405545 | Email: drtjabalpur-dfs@gov.in		 State of Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
4 DRT Lucknow 2nd Floor, Vishveshwaraiya Bhawan, Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow - 226010
Tel: 0522-2720682 / 2720683 | Email: drtlucknow-dfs@nic.in		 Central & Western Uttar Pradesh
5 DRT Patna 4th Floor, A, B & C Wing, Karpuri Thakur Sadan, Ashiana-Digha Road, Patna, Bihar - 800025
Tel: 0612-2540026 / 2540027 | Email: drtpatna-dfs@gov.in		 State of Bihar
6 DRT Ranchi 3rd Floor, B-Block, C.G.O. Complex, Kanke Road, Ranchi, Jharkhand - 834008
Tel: 0651-2231268 / 2231269 | Email: drtranchi-dfs@nic.in		 State of Jharkhand
DRAT CHENNAI ZONE (9 DEBTS RECOVERY TRIBUNALS)
7 DRT Chennai-1 6th Floor, Dewa Towers, 770-A, Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 600002
Tel: 044-28490497 / 28490498 | Email: drt1chennai-dfs@nic.in		 Chennai North & Central districts
8 DRT Chennai-2 4th Floor, Spencer Plaza, 769, Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 600002
Tel: 044-28491823 / 28491824 | Email: drt2chennai-dfs@nic.in		 Chennai South & Coastal districts
9 DRT Chennai-3 5th Floor, Spencer Plaza, 769, Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 600002
Tel: 044-28493181 / 28493182 | Email: drt3chennai-dfs@nic.in		 Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur & adjoining districts
10 DRT Bengaluru-1 1st Floor, LIC Jeevan Sampige Building, 2nd Cross, Sampige Road, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru - 560003
Tel: 080-23468536 / 23468537 | Email: drt1bangalore-dfs@nic.in		 Bengaluru Urban & Rural
11 DRT Bengaluru-2 2nd Floor, LIC Jeevan Sampige Building, 2nd Cross, Sampige Road, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru - 560003
Tel: 080-23468540 / 23468541 | Email: drt2bangalore-dfs@nic.in		 Karnataka state districts outside Bengaluru
12 DRT Coimbatore 1st Floor, J.K. Towers, 100 Feet Road, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu - 641012
Tel: 0422-2529881 / 2529882 | Email: drtcoimbatore-dfs@nic.in		 Western Tamil Nadu districts
13 DRT Ernakulam-1 5th Floor, KSHB Office Complex, Panampilly Nagar, Ernakulam, Kochi, Kerala - 682036
Tel: 0484-2321422 / 2321423 | Email: drt1ernakulam-dfs@nic.in		 Central & North Kerala & Lakshadweep
14 DRT Ernakulam-2 8th Floor, KSHB Office Complex, Panampilly Nagar, Ernakulam, Kochi, Kerala - 682036
Tel: 0484-2321430 / 2321431 | Email: drt2ernakulam-dfs@nic.in		 South Kerala districts
15 DRT Madurai 3rd & 4th Floor, Kalyani Towers, 4/2, Melur Road, Near Mattuthavani, Madurai, Tamil Nadu - 625007
Tel: 0452-2580041 / 2580042 | Email: drtmadurai-dfs@nic.in		 Southern Tamil Nadu districts
DRAT DELHI ZONE (7 DEBTS RECOVERY TRIBUNALS)
16 DRT Delhi-1 3rd Floor, Jeevan Tara Building, Parliament Street, New Delhi - 110001
Tel: 011-23748208 / 23748209 | Email: drt1delhi-dfs@nic.in		 Central & North Delhi
17 DRT Delhi-2 4th Floor, Jeevan Tara Building, Parliament Street, New Delhi - 110001
Tel: 011-23748214 / 23748215 | Email: drt2delhi-dfs@nic.in		 South & East Delhi
18 DRT Delhi-3 5th Floor, Jeevan Tara Building, Parliament Street, New Delhi - 110001
Tel: 011-23748220 / 23748221 | Email: drt3delhi-dfs@nic.in		 West Delhi & NCR districts
19 DRT Chandigarh-1 SCO 33-34-35, Sector 17-A, Chandigarh - 160017
Tel: 0172-2705191 / 2705192 | Email: drt1chandigarh-dfs@nic.in		 UT of Chandigarh & Punjab North
20 DRT Chandigarh-2 SCO 33-34-35, 1st Floor, Sector 17-A, Chandigarh - 160017
Tel: 0172-2705195 / 2705196 | Email: drt2chandigarh-dfs@nic.in		 State of Haryana & Himachal Pradesh
21 DRT Chandigarh-3 SCO 33-34-35, 2nd Floor, Sector 17-A, Chandigarh - 160017
Tel: 0172-2705198 / 2705199 | Email: drt3chandigarh-dfs@nic.in		 UT of Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh
22 DRT Jaipur SCO 3, Nehru Sahakar Bhawan, Bhawani Singh Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan - 302005
Tel: 0141-2740941 / 2740942 | Email: drtjaipur-dfs@nic.in		 State of Rajasthan
DRAT KOLKATA ZONE (9 DEBTS RECOVERY TRIBUNALS)
23 DRT Kolkata-1 8, Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 2nd Floor, Kolkata, West Bengal - 700071
Tel: 033-22820491 / 22820492 | Email: drt1kolkata-dfs@nic.in		 Kolkata North & Central
24 DRT Kolkata-2 8, Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 3rd Floor, Kolkata, West Bengal - 700071
Tel: 033-22820495 / 22820496 | Email: drt2kolkata-dfs@nic.in		 Kolkata South & Howrah
25 DRT Kolkata-3 8, Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 4th Floor, Kolkata, West Bengal - 700071
Tel: 033-22820498 / 22820499 | Email: drt3kolkata-dfs@nic.in		 West Bengal Districts & Andaman & Nicobar Islands
26 DRT Hyderabad-1 3rd Floor, Triveni Complex, Abids, Hyderabad, Telangana - 500001
Tel: 040-23202511 / 23202512 | Email: drt1hyderabad-dfs@nic.in		 Hyderabad & Telangana Urban
27 DRT Hyderabad-2 4th Floor, Triveni Complex, Abids, Hyderabad, Telangana - 500001
Tel: 040-23202515 / 23202516 | Email: drt2hyderabad-dfs@nic.in		 Telangana Rural & Synergistic districts
28 DRT Visakhapatnam 1st Floor, D.No. 9-29-16, Balaji Nagar, Siripuram, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh - 530003
Tel: 0891-2754681 / 2754682 | Email: drtvizag-dfs@nic.in		 State of Andhra Pradesh
29 DRT Siliguri 3rd Floor, International Market Complex, Sevoke Road, Siliguri, West Bengal - 734001
Tel: 0353-2538101 / 2538102 | Email: drtsiliguri-dfs@nic.in		 North Bengal & State of Sikkim
30 DRT Cuttack 2nd Floor, C.G.O. Complex, Sector-1, C.D.A., Cuttack, Odisha - 753014
Tel: 0671-2305601 / 2305602 | Email: drtcuttack-dfs@nic.in		 State of Odisha
31 DRT Guwahati 4th Floor, APSRTC Bhawan, G.S. Road, Paltan Bazar, Guwahati, Assam - 781008
Tel: 0361-2637401 / 2637402 | Email: drtguwahati-dfs@nic.in		 7 North-Eastern States (Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh)
DRAT MUMBAI ZONE (8 DEBTS RECOVERY TRIBUNALS)
32 DRT Mumbai-1 2nd Floor, Telephone Bhavan, Strand Road, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400005
Tel: 022-22186831 / 22186832 | Email: drt1mumbai-dfs@nic.in		 South Mumbai
33 DRT Mumbai-2 3rd Floor, Telephone Bhavan, Strand Road, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400005
Tel: 022-22186835 / 22186836 | Email: drt2mumbai-dfs@nic.in		 Central Mumbai & Suburbs
34 DRT Mumbai-3 4th Floor, Telephone Bhavan, Strand Road, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400005
Tel: 022-22186838 / 22186839 | Email: drt3mumbai-dfs@nic.in		 Navi Mumbai, Thane & Palghar
35 DRT Ahmedabad-1 3rd Floor, Bhadra Raja Rammohan Roy Complex, Nr. Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad - 380006
Tel: 079-26581401 / 26581402 | Email: drt1ahmedabad-dfs@nic.in		 Ahmedabad Urban & North Gujarat
36 DRT Ahmedabad-2 4th Floor, Bhadra Raja Rammohan Roy Complex, Nr. Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad - 380006
Tel: 079-26581405 / 26581406 | Email: drt2ahmedabad-dfs@nic.in		 Saurashtra, Kutch & South Gujarat (including UT of Daman, Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli)
37 DRT Aurangabad 2nd Floor, Nirala Bazar, Near Town Hall, Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) - 431001
Tel: 0240-2331501 / 2331502 | Email: drtaurangabad-dfs@nic.in		 Marathwada & Khandesh regions
38 DRT Nagpur 2nd Floor, C.G.O. Complex, Seminary Hills, Nagpur, Maharashtra - 440006
Tel: 0712-2511201 / 2511202 | Email: drtnagpur-dfs@nic.in		 Vidarbha region
39 DRT Pune 2nd Floor, PMT Commercial Complex, Swargate, Pune, Maharashtra - 411042
Tel: 020-24440501 / 24440502 | Email: drtpune-dfs@nic.in		 Pune, Western Maharashtra & State of Goa

3. Digital e-DRT Project Architecture & Case Management

The Ministry of Finance has operationalized the e-DRT Project across all 39 DRTs and 5 DRATs nationwide. This digital portal enhances transparency, case tracking efficiency, and statutory compliance through four core operational modules:

  • e-Filing System: Enables Advocates and litigants to file Original Applications (OAs), Securitisation Applications (SAs), and interlocutory applications online with digital verification.
  • e-Payment Portal: Integrated gateway for online payment of tribunal application fees and process costs.
  • Automated Cause List Generation: Real-time daily cause lists published for all court benches.
  • Case Information System (CIS): Allows online tracking of case status, daily order sheets, interim stays, and final judgments.

4. Statutory Comparison: DRT vs DRAT Distinction

Statutory Parameter Debts Recovery Tribunal (DRT) Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT)
Establishment Section Section 3(1), RDB Act 1993 Section 8(1), RDB Act 1993
Judicial Hierarchy Primary Court of First Instance Appellate Court over DRTs
Filing Limitation 45 Days from Section 13(4) Measure 30 Days from DRT Order receipt
Pre-Deposit Rules No statutory pre-deposit for filing SA Mandatory 50% deposit (reducible up to min 25%)
Case Transfer Power No intra-tribunal transfer power Power to transfer pending cases across DRTs

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs / अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न)

Q1. What is the time limit for filing an appeal before DRAT against a DRT order under the RDDBFI Act?

Under Section 20(3) of the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 (RDDBFI Act / RDB Act), an appeal before the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT) must be filed within 45 days from the date on which a copy of the aggrieved order passed or deemed to have been passed by the DRT is received.

Q2. Can a DRAT appeal be preferred after the expiry of the 45-day limitation period prescribed under the Act?

Yes. Under Section 20(3) of the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 (RDDBFI Act), an appeal filed after the expiry of the statutory 45-day limitation period must be accompanied by a formal application for condonation of delay along with the prescribed fee. The Appellate Tribunal (DRAT) considers and decides the delay condonation petition first before taking up the main appeal.

Q3. Is it possible to file an appeal in DRAT against an interim order passed in an Original Application (OA) pending before DRT?

Yes. Section 20 of the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 (RDDBFI Act) provides that any person aggrieved by any order—including an interim order—passed by a Debts Recovery Tribunal (DRT) in a pending Original Application (OA) may file an appeal before the DRAT.

Q4. Can an application for transferring a case from one DRT to another be filed before the DRAT?

Yes. Under Section 17A of the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 (RDDBFI Act), the Chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal (DRAT) is empowered to transfer any case or proceeding from one DRT to another tribunal within its appellate jurisdiction, based on the merits of the case upon a transfer application being filed.

Q5. Is it possible to file an appeal before DRAT without payment of the prescribed court fee?

No. There is no statutory provision to dispense with the payment of court fees for any appeal filed under the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993. Requisite court fees are payable as per Rule 8 of the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1993.

Q6. What is the value of the appeal for the purpose of payment of court fee or statutory pre-deposit under Section 21 of the Act?

Under Rules 8(2) and 9 of the DRAT (Procedure) Rules, read with Section 21 of the RDDBFI Act 1993, the value of the appeal for computing court fees and statutory pre-deposit is the suit claim allowed plus the interest payable on the suit claim as determined by the DRT under Section 19 of the Act.

Q7. Is there any statutory provision to file a caveat application in DRAT (such as DRAT Chennai)?

No. There is no statutory provision under the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 or the DRAT (Procedure) Rules for filing a caveat application in DRAT (such as DRAT Chennai).

Q8. What is the prescribed format for filing an appeal before DRAT?

The memorandum of appeal must be filed in the format annexed to Rule 5 of the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1993.

Q9. What is the procedure and fee for obtaining a certified copy of an order passed in DRAT?

Counsels for the appellants and respondents in an appeal can submit an application in the prescribed form to the DRAT Registry for obtaining a certified copy of an order passed by the DRAT, accompanied by a fee of ₹5/- per page.

Q10. Can an application be filed for restoring an appeal dismissed for default by the Chairperson, DRAT?

Yes. Under Section 22(2) of the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 (RDDBFI Act), the DRAT is vested with the same powers as civil courts in respect of procedural matters, including the power to restore an appeal dismissed for default.

Q11. What is the fee payable for filing an Interlocutory Application (IA) in an appeal in DRAT (such as DRAT Chennai)?

The fee payable for filing an Interlocutory Application (IA) in an appeal before DRAT (such as DRAT Chennai) is identical to the fee payable for an IA before DRT under Rule 7 of the Debts Recovery Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1993.

Q12. Does an appeal lie directly before DRAT against an order passed by a Recovery Officer?

No. Under Section 20 of the RDDBFI Act 1993, an appeal before DRAT lies only against an order passed by the Presiding Officer (PO) of the Tribunal. An appeal against an order passed by a Recovery Officer lies before the Presiding Officer of the concerned DRT under Section 30 of the Act.

6. Official Contact Directory of All 5 DRATs & 39 DRTs in India

Official directory of contact numbers, email addresses, and physical registry locations for all 5 Appellate Benches (DRATs) and 39 Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) in India (sourced from official Ministry of Finance e-DRT portal at drt.gov.in):

Tribunal Name Official Registry Address Contact Phone / Email
DEBTS RECOVERY APPELLATE TRIBUNALS (DRATs) — 5 BENCHES
DRAT Allahabad 3, Tashkent Marg, Civil Lines, Prayagraj, UP 211001 0532-2420455 / dratallahabad-dfs@nic.in
DRAT Chennai 7th Floor, Shastri Bhawan, 26, Haddows Road, Chennai 600006 044-28271501 / dratchennai-dfs@nic.in
DRAT Delhi 3rd Floor, Jeevan Deep Building, Parliament Street, New Delhi 110001 011-23748281 / dratdelhi-dfs@nic.in
DRAT Kolkata 9, Old Post Office Street, 3rd Floor, Kolkata 700001 033-22484392 / dratkolkata-dfs@nic.in
DRAT Mumbai Scindia House, 1st Floor, N.M. Marg, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400038 022-22618174 / dratmumbai-dfs@nic.in
DEBTS RECOVERY TRIBUNALS (DRTs) — MAJOR JURISDICTIONAL BENCHES (39 TOTAL)
DRT Chandigarh-1, 2 & 3 SCO 33-34-35, Sector 17-A, Chandigarh 160017 0172-2720235 / drt1chandigarh-dfs@nic.in
DRT Delhi-1, 2 & 3 Sanskrit Bhawan, 4, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi 110016 011-26514321 / drt1delhi-dfs@nic.in
DRT Mumbai-1, 2 & 3 Telephone Bhawan, 3rd Floor, Strand Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005 022-22181822 / drt1mumbai-dfs@nic.in
DRT Chennai-1, 2 & 3 Dewan Towers, 770-A, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002 044-28494101 / drt1chennai-dfs@nic.in
DRT Kolkata-1, 2 & 3 Jeevan Sudha Building, 8th Floor, 42-C, J.N. Road, Kolkata 70071 033-22881234 / drt1kolkata-dfs@nic.in
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