MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday expressed anguish at the tardy and “sorry state of affairs’’ given that the government of India hasn’t yet relocated two debt recovery tribunals in Mumbai and their appellate tribunal almost two months after a fire at Scindia House left them without premises. The HC bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla directed the Centre to “immediately consider” an offer to take premises at Ernest House in South Mumbai for at least six months pending finalisation of premises at MTNL building which it now proposes to transfer the DRT-I & II and DRAT to.

“It is constitutional obligation of state to provide adequate infrastructure to courts. Financial constraints is no ground to not provide,’’ said the HC after hearing Milind Sathe counsel for DRT Bar Association which had to approach the HC to point to lack of infrastructure and also after hearing Shyam Mehta counsel for Centre.

The court directed the Centre to make available government-owned or other premises for proper relocation of the tribunal which plays a vital role in recovery of large amounts of debts that banks that financial institutions face in the nation’s financial capital, and on temporary basis for six months at least as early as possible and in any case before August 10.

The fire brigade has recommended structural assessment as well as fire and electrical audit of Scindia House before declaring it ready to be re-occupied. The DRT and DRAT is currently functioning from PNB Building in less than one-tenth the place it had, on a co-shared basis bringing its work effectively to a standstill, the HC observed. Only urgent work was on, with staff working in shifts and carrying files back and forth from Scindia House.

