The Ministry of Finance has received notices from the Supreme Court regarding the significant vacancies in Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) across India. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Nischay Chaudhary has brought attention to the non-functionality of nearly one-third of the 39 DRTs due to the lack of Presiding Officers. This situation undermines the primary objective of the tribunals, which is to expedite debt recovery for banks and financial institutions.

The PIL argues that this inaction contradicts the purpose of the Recovery of Dues to Banks and Financial Institutions Act of 1993, which was enacted to ensure timely adjudication and recovery of debts. As of September 30, 2024, it has been reported that 11 DRTs are without Presiding Officers, severely impacting their ability to efficiently resolve cases. The Supreme Court has called for a response from the Union Ministry of Finance to address these critical staffing issues affecting the DRTs.