**Executive Summary**
On May 2, 2026, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) convened a colloquium for DRAT Chairpersons and DRT Presiding Officers to strengthen the debt recovery framework and accelerate case disposal. The meeting focused on deepening digitization through e-DRT 2.0, mandatory e-filing, and hybrid hearings to reduce pendency. Key action items include prioritizing high-value cases, leveraging mediation and Lok Adalats, and implementing structured capacity-building programs for tribunal staff.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Technological Enhancements**
* Implementation of mandatory e-filing and hybrid hearing facilities to improve efficiency and transparency.
* Continuous upgrades to the e-DRT 2.0 system to streamline tribunal processes.
* Utilization of the revamped BAANKNET e-auction platform to facilitate better asset visibility and value realization.
**Case Management and Disposal Strategies**
* Prioritization of high-value cases to ensure optimal recovery outcomes.
* Encouragement of tribunals to emulate best practices from high-performing DRTs to increase monthly disposal rates.
* Identification of both fresh and pending cases for mediation to address the backlog.
* Promotion of Lok Adalats as an effective alternate dispute resolution mechanism for expeditious disposal.
**Institutional Reforms and Capacity Building**
* Strengthening oversight and monitoring mechanisms within banks to enhance recoveries through DRTs.
* Advancing procedural reforms aimed at accelerating the overall adjudication process.
* Execution of structured training programs for Presiding Officers, Registrars, Recovery Officers, and other staff members.
**Impact Analysis**
**Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs) and Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs)**
**Impact**
Tribunals are transitioning toward a more digital, transparent, and efficient adjudication framework with increased monthly disposal rates.
**Action Required**
Adopt mandatory e-filing, maximize the use of technological tools like e-DRT 2.0, and identify cases suitable for mediation.
**Public and Private Sector Banks / Indian Banks’ Association**
**Impact**
Banks stand to achieve better recovery outcomes through improved oversight and the use of the revamped e-auction platform.
**Action Required**
Strengthen internal monitoring mechanisms and prioritize high-value cases for recovery through the DRTs.
**Tribunal Staff (Presiding Officers, Registrars, and Recovery Officers)**
**Impact**
Staff will benefit from enhanced professional capabilities through targeted infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives.
**Action Required**
Engage in structured training programmes and adopt successful models/best practices shared during the colloquium.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Financial Services (DFS): The primary department under the Ministry of Finance responsible for policy dialogue and strengthening the debt recovery framework through regular colloquiums.
Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs): Specialized judicial bodies for the recovery of debts due to banks, focused on reducing case pendency and adopting digital best practices.
Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs): Judicial bodies that hear appeals against orders from DRTs, participating in performance enhancement and policy reform dialogue.
e-DRT 2.0: A digital initiative implementing mandatory e-filing and hybrid hearing facilities to improve transparency and efficiency in tribunal processes.
BAANKNET: A revamped e-auction platform used to facilitate better asset visibility and value realization in debt recovery proceedings.
Ministry of Finance
DFS Convenes Colloquium of DRAT
Chairpersons and DRT Presiding Officers to
Strengthen Debt Recovery Framework
Mandatory e-filing, hybrid hearings and e-DRT 2.0 highlighted
for improving efficiency and expeditious disposal of cases
Posted On: 02 MAY 2026 5:06PM by PIB Delhi
A colloquium of Chairpersons of Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs) and Presiding Officers of
Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) was convened by DFS at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi today. The
Secretary, DFS addressed participants, including senior officials of DFS, representatives from public and
private sector banks, and the Indian Banks’ Association. A key focus of the deliberations was on reducing
pendency and accelerating disposal of cases. With renewed emphasis on capacity building and
strengthening infrastructure through targeted training programmes, DRTs have witnessed an encouraging
increase in monthly disposal rates. Tribunals were urged to emulate best practices adopted by high-
performing DRTs.
The Department of Financial Services (DFS) continues to convene regular colloquiums of Chairpersons of
Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs) and Presiding Officers of Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs)
as an important platform for policy dialogue, reform, and performance enhancement. These engagements
have fostered a constructive exchange of ideas, many of which have translated into tangible improvements
in the functioning of the Tribunals which also enabled the sharing of best practices across tribunals,
encouraging them to adopt successful models.The Secretary, DFS underscored the Department’s strategic thrust on deepening digitisation to streamline
tribunal processes. Key areas of discussion included strengthening oversight and monitoring mechanisms
within banks to enhance recoveries through DRTs; prioritising high-value cases for optimal recovery
outcomes; leveraging Lok Adalats as an effective alternate dispute resolution mechanism for expeditious
disposal; advancing procedural reforms to accelerate case disposal; and undertaking comprehensivecapacity-building initiatives, including structured training programmes for Presiding Officers, Registrars,
Asst. Registrars, Recovery Officers and other staff members of the Tribunals. To further address the issue
of pendency of cases in the Tribunals, it was suggested to identify the cases for mediation in respect of
pending as well as fresh cases.
On the technology front, mandatory e-filing, hybrid hearing facilities, and continuous enhancements under
e-DRT 2.0 are contributing to improved efficiency and transparency. Participants were encouraged to
maximise the use of these technological tools. The revamped BAANKNET e-auction platform is further
facilitating better asset visibility and value realisation.
DFS remains committed to ensuring a robust, transparent, and efficient adjudication framework.
***
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