Madras High Court Directs Registry Not To Register Article 226 Pleas Against DRT, DRAT Orders

The Madras High Court has directed its Registry not to register petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution challenging orders passed by the Debts Recovery Tribunal (DRT) or Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT).

A Bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan permitted petitioner R. Ravi to withdraw his petition and dismissed it as withdrawn. The judges stated:

“Registrar Judicial is directed to instruct the Registry not to register petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India against the order passed by Debts Recovery Tribunal or Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal”

Ravi had filed the petition under Article 226 challenging an order passed by the DRAT, Chennai, pursuant to an order dated 26 February 2026 in a waiver application.

He sought restoration of the appeal, contending that the requirement of pre-deposit was not attracted while the moratorium under Section 14 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code was in force. He argued that the moratorium operated as a statutory bar against the continuation or initiation of proceedings against the corporate debtor.

Since the petition was withdrawn, the Bench did not examine these contentions on merits.

Additionally, the High Court directed the Registrar (Judicial) to instruct the Registry not to register petitions under Article 226 challenging orders passed by the DRT or DRAT.

For Petitioner: Advocate B Gurumurthy