Chintaman Narayan Raut And Others vs Latabai Balu Khandale And Others
- Court
- Bombay High Court
2026:BHC-AUG:20581
48-WP-11503-21 (+6 gr).odt
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
WRIT PETITION NO.11503 OF 2021
1. Chintaman S/o. Narayan Raut,
Age: 62 years, Occu.: Agril.
2. Subhash S/o. Baliram Thakre,
Age: 36 years, Occu.: Agirl.
3. Sau. Sangita W/o. Subhash Thakre,
Age: 32 year, Occu.: Agril.
All R/o. At Post Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
Dist. Aurangabad. … Petitioners
VERSUS
1. Latabai W/o Balu Khandale,
Age: Major, Occu.: Agril.
R/o. At Post, Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
District Aurangabad.
2. The District Deputy Registrar,
Co-Operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
3. Assistant Registrar, Co-Operative
Societies, Sillod, Tq. Sillod,
Dist. Aurangabad.
4. Shri D.D. Jaiswal, Inquiry Officer/
Co-operative Officer Class-I,
Associated with Assistant Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Sillod,
Tq. Sillod, Dist. Aurangabad.
5. The Divisional Joint Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
6. The Registrar General of Money,
Lenders, Co-operative Societies,
Pune, Tq & Dist. Pune. … Respondents
AND
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WRIT PETITION NO.11422 OF 2021
1. Chintaman S/o. Narayan Raut,
Age: 62 years, Occu.: Agril.
2. Subhash S/o. Baliram Thakre,
Age: 36 years, Occu.: Agirl.
3. Sau. Sangita W/o. Subhash Thakre,
Age: 32 year, Occu.: Agril.
All R/o. At Post Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
Dist. Aurangabad. … Petitioners
VERSUS
1. Balu Trimbak Khandale,
Age: Major, Occu.: Agril.
R/o. At Post, Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
District Aurangabad.
2. The District Deputy Registrar,
Co-Operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
3. Assistant Registrar, Co-Operative
Societies, Sillod, Tq. Sillod,
Dist. Aurangabad.
4. Shri D.D. Jaiswal, Inquiry Officer/
Co-operative Officer Class-I,
Associated with Assistant Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Sillod,
Tq. Sillod, Dist. Aurangabad.
5. The Divisional Joint Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
6. The Registrar General of Money,
Lenders, Co-operative Societies,
Pune, Tq & Dist. Pune. … Respondents
AND
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WRIT PETITION NO.10649 OF 2021
1. Chintaman S/o. Narayan Raut,
Age: 62 years, Occu.: Agril.
2. Subhash S/o. Baliram Thakre,
Age: 36 years, Occu.: Agirl.
3. Sau. Sangita W/o. Subhash Thakre,
Age: 32 year, Occu.: Agril.
All R/o. At Post Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
Dist. Aurangabad. … Petitioners
VERSUS
1. Vijay Trimbak (Khandale) Patil,
Age: Major, Occu.: Agril.
R/o. At Post, Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
District Aurangabad.
2. The District Deputy Registrar,
Co-Operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
3. Assistant Registrar, Co-Operative
Societies, Sillod, Tq. Sillod,
Dist. Aurangabad.
4. Shri D.D. Jaiswal, Inquiry Officer/
Co-operative Officer Class-I,
Associated with Assistant Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Sillod,
Tq. Sillod, Dist. Aurangabad.
5. The Divisional Joint Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
6. The Registrar General of Money,
Lenders, Co-operative Societies,
Pune, Tq & Dist. Pune. … Respondents
AND
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WRIT PETITION NO.10648 OF 2021
1. Chintaman S/o. Narayan Raut,
Age: 62 years, Occu.: Agril.
2. Subhash S/o. Baliram Thakre,
Age: 36 years, Occu.: Agirl.
3. Sau. Sangita W/o. Subhash Thakre,
Age: 32 year, Occu.: Agril.
All R/o. At Post Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
Dist. Aurangabad. … Petitioners
VERSUS
1. Sunil S/o. Ananda Patil,
Age: Major, Occu.: Agril.
R/o. At Post, Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
District Aurangabad.
2. The District Deputy Registrar,
Co-Operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
3. Assistant Registrar, Co-Operative
Societies, Sillod, Tq. Sillod,
Dist. Aurangabad.
4. Shri D.D. Jaiswal, Inquiry Officer/
Co-operative Officer Class-I,
Associated with Assistant Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Sillod,
Tq. Sillod, Dist. Aurangabad.
5. The Divisional Joint Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
6. The Registrar General of Money,
Lenders, Co-operative Societies,
Pune, Tq & Dist. Pune. … Respondents
AND
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WRIT PETITION NO.5974 OF 2021
1. Chintaman S/o. Narayan Raut,
Age: 62 years, Occu.: Agril.
2. Subhash S/o. Baliram Thakre,
Age: 36 years, Occu.: Agirl.
3. Sau. Sangita W/o. Subhash Thakre,
Age: 32 year, Occu.: Agril.
All R/o. At Post Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
Dist. Aurangabad. … Petitioners
VERSUS
1. Vijay Namdeo Solanke,
Age: Major, Occu.: Agril.
R/o. At Post, Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
District Aurangabad.
2. The District Deputy Registrar,
Co-Operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
3. Assistant Registrar, Co-Operative
Societies, Sillod, Tq. Sillod,
Dist. Aurangabad.
4. Shri D.D. Jaiswal, Inquiry Officer/
Co-operative Officer Class-I,
Associated with Assistant Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Sillod,
Tq. Sillod, Dist. Aurangabad.
5. The Divisional Joint Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
6. The Registrar General of Money,
Lenders, Co-operative Societies,
Pune, Tq & Dist. Pune. … Respondents
AND
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WRIT PETITION NO.10641 OF 2021
1. Chintaman S/o. Narayan Raut,
Age: 62 years, Occu.: Agril.
2. Subhash S/o. Baliram Thakre,
Age: 36 years, Occu.: Agirl.
3. Sau. Sangita W/o. Subhash Thakre,
Age: 32 year, Occu.: Agril.
All R/o. At Post Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
Dist. Aurangabad. … Petitioners
VERSUS
1. Sanjay Ramsing Solanke,
Age: Major, Occu.: Agril.
R/o. At Post, Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
District Aurangabad.
2. The District Deputy Registrar,
Co-Operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
3. Assistant Registrar, Co-Operative
Societies, Sillod, Tq. Sillod,
Dist. Aurangabad.
4. Shri D.D. Jaiswal, Inquiry Officer/
Co-operative Officer Class-I,
Associated with Assistant Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Sillod,
Tq. Sillod, Dist. Aurangabad.
5. The Divisional Joint Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
6. The Registrar General of Money,
Lenders, Co-operative Societies,
Pune, Tq & Dist. Pune. … Respondents
AND
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WRIT PETITION NO.5967 OF 2021
1. Chintaman S/o. Narayan Raut,
Age: 62 years, Occu.: Agril.
2. Subhash S/o. Baliram Thakre,
Age: 36 years, Occu.: Agirl.
3. Sau. Sangita W/o. Subhash Thakre,
Age: 32 year, Occu.: Agril.
All R/o. At Post Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
Dist. Aurangabad. … Petitioners
VERSUS
1. Vijay Trimbak (Khandale) Patil,
Age: Major, Occu.: Agril.
R/o. At Post, Varthan, Tq. Soyegaon,
District Aurangabad.
2. The District Deputy Registrar,
Co-Operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
3. Assistant Registrar, Co-Operative
Societies, Sillod, Tq. Sillod,
Dist. Aurangabad.
4. Shri D.D. Jaiswal, Inquiry Officer/
Co-operative Officer Class-I,
Associated with Assistant Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Sillod,
Tq. Sillod, Dist. Aurangabad.
5. The Divisional Joint Registrar,
Co-operative Societies, Aurangabad,
Tq. & Dist. Aurangabad.
6. The Registrar General of Money,
Lenders, Co-operative Societies,
Pune, Tq & Dist. Pune. … Respondents
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......
Mr. R.V. Gore, Advocate for the Petitioners in all WPs
Mr. Mr. K.J.Suryawanshi, Advocate for Respondent No.1 in all WPs
Mr.R.D. Dhaware, AGP for Respondents No.2 to 6
......
CORAM : SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE, J.
DATE : 15 APRIL, 2026
JUDGMENT :
1. Rule. Rule is made returnable forthwith. With the consent of the
parties, the petitions are taken up for final disposal at the stage of
admission.
2. Heard the learned counsel for the respective parties.
3. In all these petitions, the petitioners challenge the order dated
02.08.2019 passed by the learned Registrar General of Money Lenders, Co-
operative Societies, Pune, whereby Revision Application Nos. 02/2019,
04/2019, 05/2019, 03/2019, 01/2019, 07/2019 and 06/2019 came to be
dismissed, thereby confirming the orders passed by the learned Divisional
Joint Registrar, Aurangabad dated 26.11.2018 in Appeal Nos. 19/2016,
21/2016, 23/2016, 22/2016, 24/2016, 25/2016 and 20/2016, respectively,
and further confirming the orders passed by the learned District Deputy
Registrar on 21.03.2016, 17.03.2016, 22.03.2016, 23.03.2016, 22.03.2016,
23.03.2016 and 19.03.2016 in Application Nos. 04/2015, 01/2016,
09/2015, 07/2016, 06/2016, 08/2016 and 05/2015, respectively.
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4. Learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr. R.V. Gore, submitted that
respondent No.1 in the respective petitions has filed complaints under
Section 18 of the Maharashtra Money Lending (Regulation) Act, 2014 (for
short, “the Act”), alleging that they had obtained loans of various amounts
at the rate of 3% interest in the year 2009 from a private money lender, i.e.
petitioner No.1. He submitted that respondent No.1 in the respective
petitions has contended in the complaints that, as the transactions were in
the nature of money-lending, nominal sale deeds came to be executed. It is
further contended that, despite repayment of the loan amounts, the
petitioners refused to execute the sale deeds, and therefore, the complaints
were filed.
5. Learned counsel further submitted that as the authorities, without
following the procedure contemplated under Section 15 of the Act, decided
the proceedings, all the impugned orders are liable to be set aside. He
submits that disbursement of loans and execution of sale deeds distinct
transactions. He, therefore, submits that all the authorities have committed
an error in entertaining the complaints filed by respondent No.1 in
respective petitions, and consequently, the orders passed by the District
Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Aurangabad, the Divisional Joint
Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Aurangabad, and the Registrar General of
Money Lenders, Co-operative Societies, Pune are liable to be quashed and
set aside.
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6. Par contra, learned counsel Mr. Suryawanshi for respondent No. 1 in
respective petitions and learned AGP Mr. Dhaware for respondents No.2 to 6
in all petitions supported the orders passed by the authorities.
7. After hearing the learned counsel for the petitioners and upon
perusal of the orders passed by the authorities, it would be apposite to refer
to the object of the Act. The said enactment was brought into force in view
of the increasing instances of harassment at the hands of money-lenders in
the State, which had, inter alia, led to a rise in suicides by farmers. The
earlier enactment, namely, the Bombay Money-Lenders Act, 1946, was
found to be inadequate to protect farmer-debtors and to prevent their
harassment by money-lenders.
8. In the aforesaid background, the legislature deemed it necessary to
introduce appropriate social and legal measures to effectively curb such
harassment and to regulate and control money-lending transactions.
Accordingly, the said Act came to be enacted and brought into force with
effect from 16.01.2014.
9. As per Section 2(3) of the said Act, “business of money-lending”
means the business of advancing loans, whether in cash or in kind, and
whether or not in connection with, or in addition to, any other business.
Section 2(7) defines “debtor” to mean a person to whom a loan is advanced,
whether in cash or in kind, and includes his successor in interest or surety.
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10. Section 2(9) defines “interest” to include any sum, by whatever
name called, in excess of the principal, paid or payable to a money-lender in
consideration of, or otherwise in respect of, a loan, but does not include any
sum lawfully charged by a money-lender on account of costs, charges or
expenses in accordance with the provisions of this Act or any other law for
the time being in force. “Loan” is also defined under Section 2(13) of the Act
as an advance at interest whether of money or in kind.
11. Section 2(11) defines “licence” to mean a licence granted under the
Act. Section 4 of the Act provides that no money-lender shall carry on the
business of money-lending except in the area for which a licence is granted
and except in accordance with the terms and conditions of such licence.
12. Section 2(14) defines “money-lender” means;
“(i) an individual; or
(ii) an undivided Hindu family; or
(iii) a company, other than a non-banking financial company
regulated under Chapter IIIB of the Reserve Bank of India Act,
1934; or
(iv) an unincorporated body of individuals, who or which—
(a) carries on the business of money-lending in the
State; or
(b) has his or its principal place of such business in the
State; and includes a pawn-broker. However, it does
not include
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(i) the Government;
(ii) a local authority;
(iii) a bank;
(iv) a co-operative bank;
(v) a multi-state co-operative bank;
(vi) a non-banking financial company;
(vii) a primary credit society;
(viii) a Regional Rural Bank;
(ix) the Reserve Bank of India;
(x) the Agricultural Refinance Corporation
constituted under the Agricultural Refinance
Corporation Act, 1963; or
(xi) any other banking or financial institution
which the State Government may, by notification
in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.”
13. Therefore, considering the aforesaid provisions, a licence issued by
the competent authority is a prerequisite for carrying on the business of
money-lending. An individual who does not possess a valid licence under
the Act and yet engages in money-lending can be termed as a money-lender
carrying on business without a licence. In such a case, the Act provides for
penal consequences. Section 39 of the said Act prescribes the penalty for
carrying on the business of money-lending without a valid licence. Section
39 of the Act reads thus:
“39. Penalty for doing moneylending without valid licence:
- Whoever carries on the business of money-lending without obtaining a
valid licence, shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment of
either description for a term which may extend to five years or with fine
which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both.”
14. As regards the power of the authorised officer to require production
of records and documents is concerned, the same is provided under Section
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16 of the Act, which reads thus:
16. Power of authorized officer to require production of records or
“
documents:
For the purpose of verifying, whether the business of money lending is
carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Act, Registrar
General, Divisional Registrar, District Registrar and Assistant Registrar or
any other officer authorized by the State Government in this behalf may
require any money-lender or any person in respect of whom the Registrar
General, Divisional Registrar, District Registrar and Assistant Registrar or
the officer authorized by him, has reason to believe that he is carrying on
the business of money-lending in the State, to produce any record or
documents in his possession which in his opinion is relevant for the
purpose and thereupon such money-lender or person shall produce such
record or documents. The Registrar General, Divisional Registrar, District
Registrar and Assistant Registrar or officer so authorized may, after
reasonable notice, at any reasonable time enter and search without
warrant any premises where he believes such record or documents to be
kept and inspect such record or documents and may ask any question
necessary for interpreting or verifying such record.”
15. As per Section 16 of the Act, the authorities, including the Registrar
General, Divisional Registrar, District Registrar and Assistant Registrar, or
any other officer authorized by the State Government, are empowered to
conduct an inquiry in respect of the business of money-lending. The money-
lender is required to produce the relevant records and documents, and the
authorities are also empowered to search, without warrant, any premises
where they have reason to believe that such records or documents are kept,
and to inspect the same.
16. Section 17 of the Act reads as deals with disposal of property
pledged with money-lender carrying business of money-lending without
valid licence.
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17. It is necessary to refer to Section 18 of the Act, which empowers the
authority to order return of immovable property acquired in the course of
money-lending transactions. Section 18 provides that, on the basis of facts
disclosed during verification under Section 16 or inspection under Section
17, or upon an application made by a debtor or otherwise, if the District
Deputy Registrar has reason to believe that any immovable property has
come into the possession of a money-lender by way of sale, mortgage, lease,
exchange or otherwise, within a period of fifteen years from the date of such
verification, inspection or receipt of the application, and that such property
is in the nature of security offered by the debtor for a loan advanced by the
money-lender, the District Deputy Registrar may, either himself or through
an Inquiry Officer appointed for that purpose, in the prescribed manner,
hold a further inquiry into the nature of the transaction.
18. Therefore, considering the object underlying the enactment of the
Act of 2014, the authorities are empowered to inquire into transactions and
documents pertaining to a period of up to fifteen years. In furtherance of the
said object, namely to take effective penal and legal measures to prevent
harassment of farmers, the Maharashtra Money-Lending (Regulation) Act,
2014 came to be enacted.
19. As regards the facts of the present cases, on 20.08.2014, upon
issuance of prior notice to the petitioners, an inspection was carried out by
the competent authority, and as per the enquiry report, the following
48-WP-11503-21 (+6 gr).odt
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documents were seized::
“ शेतजमिनीचेखरेदीखत :
१ . खरेदीखतक्रमांक१००१दिनांक२७ / ०७ / २००९गटनंबर२०६क्षेत्र४०
आरगाववराणलिहूनदेणाररावसाहेबरतनसिंगसोळंकेवलिहुनघेणार
सौ . संगितासुभाषठाकरे .
२ . खरेदीखतक्रमांक३६८दिनांक०६ / ०३ / २००९गटनंबर३६८क्षेत्र२३
.
आरगाववरठाणलिहूनदेणारलताबाईगालुखंडाळेवलिहुनघेणारसो
संगितासुभाषठाकरे .
३ . खरेदीखतक्रमांक३६७दिनांक०६ / ०३ / २००९गटनंबर२०६क्षेत्र२४
.
आरगाववरठाणलिहूनदेणारबालुत्र्यंबकखंडाळेवलिहुनघेणारसौ
संगितासुभाषठाकरे .
४ . खरेदीखतक्रमांक२०५दिनांक०७ / ०२ / २००९गटनंबर१६७क्षेत्र७३
आरगाववरठाणलिहूनदेणारविजयत्र्यंबकपाटीलवलिहूनघेणारसुभाष
बळि रामठाकरे .
५ . खरेदीखतक्रमांक३७३दिनांक०६ / ०३ / २००९गटनंबर६६क्षेत्र
३० ÷ ३४६४आरगाववरठाणलिहुनदेणारसुनिलआनंदापाटीलवलिहुन
घेणारसौसंगितासुभाषठाकरे
६ . खरेदीखतक्रमांक९४५दिनांक२० / ०६ / २००५गटनंबर७१क्षेत्र९१
आरगावघोरकुंडलिहुनदेणारशंकरहरिदासकेशवाणीवलिहुनघेणार
सुभाषबळि रामठाकरे .
७ . खरेदीखतक्रमांक३७२दिनांक०६ / ०३ / २००९गटनंबर३९क्षेत्र८०
आरगावबरठ्ठाणलिहुनदेणारसंजयरामसिंगसोळंकेवलिहुनघेणार
चिंतामणनारायणराऊत .
८ . खरेदीखतक्रमांक५५३दिनांक०८ / ०४ / २००९गटनंबर१७४क्षेत्र५५
आरगाववरठाणलिहुनदेणारविजयनामदेवसोळंके वलिहुनघेणार
चिंतामणनारायणराऊत
९ . खरेदीखत ५३५दिनांक०३ / ०२ / १९९६गटनंबर७९क्षेत्र२०आर
dzekad
गाववरठाणलिहुनदेणारभरतसिंगमोहसिंगजाधववलिहूनघेणार
चिंतामणनारायणराऊत .
बाँडपेपर :-
रू१००च्या
1- izfrKki=koj लिहुनघेतलेलाबाँडलिहुनदेणारसंगिता
सुभाषठाकरे
रू . १००च्या
2- izfrKki=koj लिहुनघेतलेलाबाँडलिहुनदेणार
शालनबाईराऊत
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३ . रू . १००च्या
izfrKki=koj लिहुनघेतलेलाबाँडलिहुनदेणारशालनबाई
राऊत
बैंकपासबुके :-
१ . बैंकऑफमहाराष्ट्रखाते dzekad ६०११०३६२०६१
२ . बैंकऑफमहाराष्ट्रखाते dzekad ६००६६२३९३५४
३ . बैंकऑफमहाराष्ट्रखाते dzekad २०२३०५०७४८४
४ . बैंकऑफमहाराष्ट्रखाते dzekad ४७१४
५ . औरंगाबादजि . म . स . बैंकशाखावरठाणखाते dzekad ०००५११००२००२१५६
६ . औरंगाबादजि . म . स . बैंकशाखावरठाणखाते dzekad ०००५११००२००३८१६
७ . औरंगाबादजि . म . स . बैंकशाखावरठाणखाते dzekad ०००५११००२००८०८५
८ . औरंगाबादजि . म . स . बैंकशाखावरठाणखाते ०००५११००२००२१५७
dzekad
धनादेश :-
१ . बैंकऑफमहाराष्ट्रधनादेश dzekad ००१६३८व१६४०
२ . औरंगाबादजि . म . स . बैंकशाखाबरठाणधनादेश dzekad ४४१२५१व
२१७९०९
बैंकभरणापावत्या :-
१ . बैंकऑफमहाराष्ट्रदिनांक०१ / ०८ / २०१३रू . १ , ०० , ००० /-
२ . बँकऑफमहाराष्ट्रदिनांक०८ / ०८ / २०१३रू . ८० , ००० /-
३ . बैंकऑफमहाराष्ट्रदिनांक२२ / ०२ / २०१३रू . १५ , ००० /-
४ . बैंकऑफमहाराष्ट्रदिनांक१६ / ०३ / २०११रु . ५०० /-
५ . बैंकऑफमहाराष्ट्रदिनांक२६ / ०३ / २०११रू . २३ , ९८० /-
48-WP-11503-21 (+6 gr).odt
17
६ . बैंकऑफमहाराष्ट्रदिनांक१७ / ११ / २०१२रू . ५० , ००० /-
७ . बँकऑफमहाराष्ट्रदिनांक१७ / ११ / २०१२रू . ३० , ००० /-
८ . बैंकऑफमहाराष्ट्रदिनांक०२ / ०३ / २०१२रू . ८० , ००० /-
९ . बँकऑफमहाराष्ट्रदिनांक२२ / १२ / २०१३रु . ५० , ००० /-
१० . बँकऑफमहाराष्ट्रदिनांक१२ / ०३ / २०१५रू . ८२ , ००० /-
११ . बँकऑफमहाराष्ट्रदिनांक२७ / ०२ / २०१३रू . २ , ५५ , ००० /-
१२ . बँकऑफमहाराष्ट्रदिनांक०८ / ०७ / २०१३रू . ५० , ००० /-
दारिद्रयरेषा izek.ki= :- दारिद्रयरेषा izek.ki= Jh- सुभाषबळीरामठाकरे
यांचे
1- सुभाषठाकरेयांचेवउत्पन्नाचे izek.ki= दिनांक१६ / ०७ / २०१२ ,
०४ / ०१ / २०११व३१ / १० /
2010
2- lat; नामदेवमहालेयांनीसाध्याकागदावरलिहनदिलेलेपत्र
३ . शैतजमिनीचे७ / १२एकूणसंख्या२२
४ . छोटीनोंदवही१
५ . १०० , पेजेसच्याअर्धवटनोंदवहयानोदीअसलेल्या२बहया .”
20. Thereafter, by letter dated 18.09.2015, a communication was
addressed to the Tahsildar, Soygaon to inquire in whose possession the
respective lands were. The petitioners also filed affidavits contending that
the transactions in question were not in the nature of money-lending
transactions.
21. On completion of the enquiry, the District Deputy Registrar allowed
the complaints filed by respondent No.1. Being aggrieved thereby, the
petitioners preferred appeals before the Divisional Joint Registrar,
48-WP-11503-21 (+6 gr).odt
18
Aurangabad, which came to be dismissed. Being aggrieved, the petitioners
filed revision applications before the learned Registrar General, which also
came to be dismissed.
22. In the present cases, the petitioners are engaged in the business of
money-lending, and the transactions between the petitioners and
respondents No.1 are in the nature of money-lending transactions. Though
the petitioners have denied the same, it has come on record, pursuant to the
enquiry, that the petitioners are carrying on the business of money-lending
without holding a valid licence.
23. As regards the contention of the petitioners that the authorities have
not followed the procedure contemplated under Section 15 of the Act, it is
necessary to refer to Section 15 of the Act, which reads thus:
“ 15. Registrar General and his subordinates to have powers of Civil Court:
For the purposes of sections 6 and 16, the Registrar General,
Divisional Registrar, District Registrar, Assistant Registrar and the officer
authorized under section 16; and for the purposes of the District Registrar
shall have and may exercise the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court
under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), in respect of the
following matters, namely :—
(a) enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him
on oath;
(b) compelling the production of documents and material
objects;
(c) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses; and
(d) proof of facts by affidavits.”
24. On a perusal of Section 15 of the Act, it is evident that the
authorities are vested with powers for enforcement of attendance of any
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19
person, production of documents, issuance of commissions for examination
of witnesses, and for proof of facts by affidavits. These provisions relate to
the powers conferred upon the authorities for conducting the proceedings.
25. In the present cases, it is not in dispute that notices were issued and,
pursuant thereto, the petitioners appeared before the authorities and
submitted their say. In that view of the matter, the contention of the
petitioners that the procedure contemplated under Section 15 of the Act has
not been followed cannot be accepted. The said contention is, therefore,
rejected.
26. After the filing of the complaint by respondent No.1, the District
Deputy Registrar directed the competent authority to conduct an inspection.
During the course of inspection, documents were found indicating that all
the petitioners were engaged in money-lending transactions, and to that
effect, a report came to be submitted. As per the said report, it transpired
that the petitioners were carrying on the business of money-lending without
holding a valid licence.
27. In the present cases, the authorities inspected the premises and
found documents in possession of the petitioners, which establish that the
petitioners were carrying on the business of money-lending without holding
a valid licence.
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20
28. In view of the aforesaid, I find that all the authorities have acted in
accordance with the provisions of the Maharashtra Money-Lending
(Regulation) Act, 2014. I do not find any perversity or illegality in the
impugned orders passed by the authorities. Hence, I proceed to pass the
following order:
ORDER
(i) The Writ Petitions are dismissed.
(ii) No orders as to costs.
(iii) Rule discharged.
29. Pending civil applications, if any, stand disposed of.
[ SIDDHESHWAR S. THOMBRE ]
JUDGE
S P Rane