Tribunal · DRT / DRAT
DRT and DRAT: case tracking for bank recovery and SARFAESI matters
Original applications, securitisation applications and appeals, before the Registrar, the Presiding Officer and the Recovery Officer: Legal Staff keeps each DRT and DRAT date in one diary.
- Seat: DRTs across India; DRATs in a few cities
- Debt Recovery Tribunals in many cities
- Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunals hearing appeals from groups of DRTs
Overview
How Legal Staff fits a day at the DRT / DRAT
Debt Recovery Tribunals hear original applications by banks and financial institutions under the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993, and securitisation applications by borrowers and others under section 17 of the SARFAESI Act. Appeals go to the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunals. For a recovery practice, whether acting for lenders or borrowers, one account can generate an OA, an SA and later an appeal, each before a different officer.
Within a DRT, matters can be listed before the Registrar for procedural steps such as service and completion of pleadings, before the Presiding Officer for hearing, and later before the Recovery Officer once a recovery certificate is issued. Legal Staff reads each order and records which of these the next date is before, so the right junior turns up in the right room.
DRT dockets also tend to move in batches for a single lender. Tagging cases by client lets you see, in one view, every OA and SA for that bank and the next date in each.
DRT / DRAT at a glance
- Type
- Tribunal
- Seat
- DRTs across India; DRATs in a few cities
- Also
- Debt Recovery Tribunals in many cities
- Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunals hearing appeals from groups of DRTs
- Source of record
- Debt Recovery Tribunal and DRAT case status and cause lists published through the official DRT portal
- Department of Financial Services notifications
Legal Staff does not replace official cause lists or case status. You confirm every date against them.
Order reading
How orders from the DRT / DRAT look
Upload or paste an order or a cause list entry. Legal Staff reads it, summarises it with paragraph references and picks out the next date. Nothing reaches your diary until you confirm it.
DRT and DRAT orders: OA, SA and appeal numbers, and before whom
- Orders carry the application type and number (OA, SA, or an appeal number at the DRAT) and Legal Staff keeps it exactly as written.
- Legal Staff notes whether the next date is before the Registrar, the Presiding Officer or the Recovery Officer.
- Directions to file a written statement, reply or rejoinder, or to effect service, become tasks.
- Interim orders (for example, on possession under SARFAESI) are summarised with paragraph references and their conditions.
Order (sample)
DEBT RECOVERY TRIBUNAL-__, [City]
S.A. No. ____ / 20__
[Applicant] v. [Secured Creditor]
Reply by the respondent bank within three weeks. Adjourned to 28.01.2027 for hearing before the Presiding Officer.
Picked out for your confirmation
- Forum
- DRT (Presiding Officer)
- Application
- SA under SARFAESI s.17
- Next date
- 28 Jan 2027 (to confirm)
- Task
- Bank's reply: 3 weeks
Workflow
From order to reminder: DRT / DRAT matters in Legal Staff
- Step 1
Create OAs, SAs and appeals
Add each matter with its DRT or DRAT, application type and number, and tag the client (lender or borrower).
- Step 2
Upload each order
Legal Staff reads the next date and whether it is before the Registrar, the Presiding Officer or the Recovery Officer.
- Step 3
Confirm and assign
Confirm the date against the official cause list and assign the appearance to a junior or counsel.
- Step 4
Track pleadings and service
Directions to file written statements, replies or proof of service become tasks with due dates.
- Step 5
Review by client
Filter the diary by lender or borrower to see every account and its next date in one view.
- Step 6
Remind and report
WhatsApp reminders go to the team before each date, and you can share a client update once a date is confirmed.
Practice notes
Listing and practice notes for the DRT / DRAT
- 01
DRTs hear original applications under the RDB Act and securitisation applications under section 17 of the SARFAESI Act; appeals lie to the DRAT.
- 02
Original applications are maintainable above a pecuniary threshold notified by the Central Government; check the current notification before filing.
- 03
Appeals to the DRAT generally require a pre-deposit; the amount and any waiver depend on the statute and the tribunal's order, so check the provision that applies.
- 04
Cause lists and case status are published through the official DRT portal, which remains the record.
- 05
DRTs also act as the adjudicating authority for insolvency of individuals and partnership firms under the IBC, other than personal guarantors to corporate debtors, whose matters go to the NCLT.
General information for advocates, not legal advice. Statutes, rules and court practice directions change; check the bare Act, the latest amendments and your court's rules before relying on any date or section. Forum details on this page are general; benches, rosters and listing practice are notified by each court or tribunal and change.
Where this forum sits
Advocates using Legal Staff for DRT / DRAT matters
DRT / DRAT: frequently asked questions
Can Legal Staff tell a Registrar date from a hearing before the Presiding Officer?
Yes, where the order says so. Each proposed date is labelled with the officer before whom it is listed, and you confirm it.
Can I see all matters for one bank together?
Yes. Tag cases by client and filter the diary or case list to see every OA, SA and appeal with its next date.
Does it calculate SARFAESI and RDB Act limitation?
The limitation tracker calculates periods using rules you can see, with each exclusion shown for approval. Check the statute and current rulings for the period that applies.
Does it pull DRT cause lists automatically?
No. The official DRT portal is the source of record. You paste or upload the order or list entry.
Can I keep recovery certificate proceedings with the OA?
Yes. Recovery Officer dates sit on the same case as the original application, so the history stays in one place.
Related features, tools and guides
Run your DRT / DRAT diary in Legal Staff
Upload an order, confirm the next date, and let reminders go out to your team on WhatsApp. Set up your chamber in minutes.