Staff shortage in debts recovery tribunals adds to banks' NPA woes

Each DRT is expected to have at least two recovery officers. According to the government otification, there are now vacancies for 16 recovery officers, and another 20 are anticipated by December

With debts recovery tribunals (DRTs) across the country struggling with logistics, the number of unsettled cases in these tribunals are rising, adding to the already soaring non-performing assets (NPAs) of banks.

In Mumbai, work has come to a near halt after the building which housed one of the key DRTs caught fire on June 2. The Bombay High Court in August said the Centre’s delay in allotting space for the DRT was causing a loss to the Maharashtra government while borrowers from banks were benefiting.

DRT lawyers in other cities also are struggling with poor infrastructure and acute shortage of staff.  According