Authority: High Court of Judicature at Madras

Order Date: 18 June 2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioners: Nandhi Dall Mills Registered Firm (represented by partners S.A. Kumar, K. Jayanthi, K. Arun) and individual partners listed at No.270, Narasimman Road, Shevapet, Salem-636 002.
  • Respondents: (1) Identification Committee for Wilful Defaulters, IDBI Bank Limited; (2) Review Committee for Wilful Defaulters, IDBI Bank Limited; (3) IDBI Bank Limited represented by its Deputy General Manager and Authorized Officer; (4) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – impleaded suo motu as per order dated 01.08.2024.
  • Petition Numbers: WP No.31299 of 2023 and WMP Nos.30913, 30914 and 15097 of 2024.
  • Nature of Proceeding: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of certiorari to call for the records of the second respondent (Review Committee) concerning a communication dated 27.06.2023 (order No.WDRC/02/(FY-2023-24)/NDM dated 31.05.2023). The petition also sought to quash the order as prejudicial, unfair, and contrary to the spirit of circulars relating to wilful default.
  • Key Allegations: The petitioners alleged that the order of the Review Committee was prejudicial and unfair, violating the spirit of regulatory circulars on wilful defaults.
  • Court’s Observations: The Court noted that the second respondent, the Review Committee of IDBI Bank Limited, is a "banking company" and does not perform any sovereign function of the State. Accordingly, a writ petition under Article 226 can be issued only against the State, its instrumentalities, or a private body discharging a public function or statutory public duty. Since IDBI Bank is a private bank, the writ petition is not maintainable.

Final Outcome

  • The writ petition is dismissed as not maintainable.
  • No order as to costs.
  • All interim applications stand closed.
  • The petitioners are left to pursue any other legal remedy available to them.

Topics: Bank‑related Writ Petition, Banking Regulation