DRT Filing Process & Court Fee Guide in India
Filing before Debt Recovery Tribunal isn’t as straightforward as uploading a petition along with a generic court fee. It depends on who the filing party is, which proceeding to file, the amount claimed, territorial jurisdiction and whether the matter is filed under the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993 or SARFAESI Act, 2002.
It matters which tribunal with which proceeding to approach and having the right knowledge can save time and money.
An Original Application by a bank for recovery will attract a different fee structure from that of a borrower filing an application challenging a SARFAESI notice of possession or auction under Section 17. Even counterclaims, interlocutory applications, review petitions and appeals against orders of the Recovery Officer each have distinct prescribed fees.
Likewise, the process has also undergone changes. The official DRT/DRAT website states “e-filing of pleadings by applicants is mandatory and no other mode of filing will be accepted in the office for recording purposes”. The eDRT project covers all DRTs/DRATs and enables electronic access to filing and case-management services.
For borrowers, guarantors, companies or property owners facing bank recovery, the process can be even more overwhelming because terminology is often used incorrectly. A “DRT case” against a bank auction is likely to be a Securitisation Application under Section 17 of SARFAESI. The bank itself may have filed an Original Application under Section 19 of RDDB Act. If someone wants to file an appeal against the Recovery Officer’s order, they have to approach the tribunal through a different statutory provision.
Filing the wrong proceeding or counterclaim, approaching the wrong tribunal, calculating the incorrect fee or missing documents can lead to registry objections which costs time at best.
BK Singh Advocate has assisted clients with multiple matters at DRT and DRAT stages including bank recovery matters, SARFAESI notices of possession and auction, staying recovery certificates and much more. Deciphering exactly what needs to be filed is the first step before even calculating court fees.
Why the DRT Filing Process Matters in India in 2026
DRT cases usually involve where a significant amount of money or valuable secured asset is already at stake.
You may have a business being recovered of crores of rupees. You could have a family fighting for possession of a mortgaged house. You could be a guarantor who suddenly learns that recovery is being initiated against you personally. Or you could be a bank who needs to file an Original Application relying on loan accounts and security documents.
Errors at this stage can be costly.
For example, Section 13(4) of the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993 sets out the statute under which recovery applications are filed before DRTs. The lowest pecuniary limit for initiating proceedings under that Section was revised from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh via notification in 2018. Official documents still reflect ₹10 lakh as the limit.
That limit should not be read into a Section 17 SARFAESI application. If a borrower files a petition contesting an action under Section 13(4), she is exercising the right provided by the SARFAESI Act and the Security Interest (Enforcement) Rules dictate the payable court fee.
Jurisdiction is yet another matter of practical concern.
There are multiple Debt Recovery Tribunals for Delhi and New Delhi alone. Elsewhere, tribunals have established territorial jurisdictions that cover nearby cities including Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.
The filing needs to be placed before the tribunal having jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the dispute.
BK Singh Advocate typically recommends verifying jurisdiction, limitation, type of case and fee payable before drafting and uploading the primary set of pleadings. Making those inquiries afterwards opens up the possibility of needless objections.
Quick Facts About DRT Filing and Court Fees
- The official portal of DRT mentions pleadings filed by applicants mandatorily need to be e-filed.
- While banks / financial institutions generally file an Original Application under Section 19 of RDB Act for eligible debt-recovery claims. Section 13(4) objections by borrower/applicant/aggrieved person is dealt with under Section 17 before DRT.
- Current minimum pecuniary jurisdiction under RDB Act is ₹20 lakh for proceedings initiated by banks / financial institutions for recovery of debts.
- Eligible borrower / eligible aggrieved person filing objection to action taken under Section 13(4) of SARFAESI usually do so under Section 17 before DRT.
- Fee for filing an OA under RDB Act is determined as per Rule 7 of Debts Recovery Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 1993
- Fee for filing SARFAESI Section 17 proceedings is determined separately under Security Interest (Enforcement) Rules.
- One must note filing fees are not inclusive of lawyers professional fees / documentation charges or mandatory pre-deposits required for specific types of appeals.
What Exactly Can Be Filed Before a DRT?
Types of proceedings before a DRT
A DRT adjudicates multiple types of proceedings.
One should identify the category first because the statute, form, fee, documents required and limitation period vary depending on the nature of the case.
Original Application
An Original Application or OA is instituted by a bank or other financial institution eligible to recover amounts under the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act.
Rule 19 mandates the presentation of an application along with true copies of documents upon which it is founded and the requisite fee. Additional particulars regarding secured assets and property shall also be furnished by way of application as required by statute in the appropriate circumstances.
The debt could arise out of term loans, cash-credit accounts, working-capital facilities, secured business loans or any other money-debt.
Securitisation Application under Section 17
A borrower, guarantor or other aggrieved person can file an application before the DRT challenging actions under Section 13(4) of the SARFAESI Act.
These applications are referred to as an SA or Securitisation Application for short.
Common disputes include recovery of possession of secured assets, enforcement actions, auction proceedings or any other measure permitted by law.
Counterclaim
The defendant in an RDB Act proceeding can file a counterclaim, if permissible.
The Court fees payable is determined by the value of such counterclaim and calculated as per the relevant procedural rules.
Interlocutory Application
Parties to a proceeding already pending before the DRT can seek interim orders or other procedural relief.
Such applications are referred to as interlocutory applications or IAs for short. An interlocutory application under Rule 7 of the DRT Procedure Rules is payable at ₹250.
Review Application
Either party can seek a review of the order provided the statutory and procedural criteria for review are satisfied.
Such an application is not an opportunity to try the case again from the beginning merely because the applicant is unhappy with the result.
Fee is dependent on the type of review sought.
Appeal against Order of a Recovery Officer
Orders passed by a Recovery Officer may be appealed before the Presiding Officer of the Debt Recovery Tribunal in the prescribed manner.
A separate fee schedule is provided for such orders.
What Are the Other Common DRT Fees?
Rule 7 also has miscellaneous additional filing fees for various proceedings.
Counterclaim
For a counterclaim not exceeding ₹10 lakh: ₹12,000.
For a counterclaim exceeding ₹10 lakh but upto ₹10 lakh plus the additional amount calculated at ₹1,000 for every ₹1 lakh or part thereof, ₹12,000 plus ₹1,000 for every ₹1 lakh or part thereof exceeding ₹10 lakh (max. ₹1,50,000)
Review Against an Interim Order
₹125
Review of a Final Order
50% of the fee otherwise payable at the rates applicable to the original application or counterclaim (max ₹15,000)
Interlocutory Application
₹250
Vakalatnama
₹5
Appeal Against Recovery Officers Order [Refers to the order passed by the Recovery Officer under section 27]
As per the prescribed schedule, for amounts:
- less than ₹10 lakh: ₹12,000;
- ₹10 lakh or more but below ₹30 lakh: ₹20,000;
- ₹30 lakh or more: ₹30,000.
What Documents Are Needed for DRT Filing?
Documents required differ from proceeding to proceeding.
General useful checklist for SARFAESI borrower:
- loan sanction letter;
- loan / security documents (extant with borrower);
- Section 13(2) demand notice;
- Borrower Representation / Objection;
- Notice Under Section 13(3A) By Bank;
- Notice of Possession;
- Newspaper Publication;
- Section 14 documents (if any);
- Physical possession document;
- Valuation / Auction document (available with borrower);
- Notice of Sale;
- OTS Correspondence;
- Statements;
- Emails and Postal Correspondences;
- Proof of identity and address;
- Authorization of Company / Partnership firm (if any);
- Order of DRT / Civil Court / High Court (if any);
Documents supporting prayer for urgent interim relief.
Documents required by bank filing an OA would typically include account statements, loan / sanction documents, security documents, acknowledgements, guarantees and documents establishing recoverable debt.
Section 19 itself talks about filing true copies of documents on which reliance is being placed. It also specifically mentions qualifying bank-account records.
BK Singh Advocate can help you draft a case specific checklist. Documents which are not required make the filing bulky. One document missing can cost you the case.
How Is Territorial Jurisdiction Decided?
Territorial Jurisdiction needs to be analysed before filing fee is deposited.
Connecting factors under Rule 6 of DRT Procedure Rules has traditionally been the place where the applicant bank is functioning/branch from where the application is filed , the residence or place of business of the defendant and where cause of action arises wholly or in part.
Jurisdiction of tribunals are also administratively divided.
It may not be that straightforward for an individual who has multiple properties/deals with multiple borrowers or conducting business through multiple establishments in different states.
Take for example Delhi NCR.
Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad are in close vicinity to each other, but do not fall under the jurisdiction of the same tribunal just because they are a part of NCR.
We need to find out which specific DRT has territorial jurisdiction.
When Should a Lawyer Be Consulted Before DRT Filing?
Professional review comes in handy where :
- physical possession has been threatened or
- auction date is announced
- borrower seeks urgent interim relief
- limitation period is about to expire
- more than one SARFAESI actions have taken place
- account is guaranteed by multiple parties
- more than one property is mortgaged
- the cause of action is against a company or LLP
- there is a question of territorial jurisdiction
- there are pending proceedings in some other court or tribunal
- correct court fee is questioned
- there are defects pointed out by the registry
- Recovery Officer has passed an unfavorable order
Order from DRT is required to be challenged before DRAT.
BK Singh Advocate can review the proceeding before filing and bifurcate the proceeding in four basic queries i.e jurisdiction , limitation, maintainability and relief.
Four questions themselves often speak louder than length of the petition.
How DRT Advocates Can Help With DRT Filing
DRT Advocates helps borrowers, guarantors, banks, companies, landlords and any other party eligible to file petitions in DRT and DRAT.
Services may include review of notices served, determination of appropriate statutory remedy, determining territorial jurisdiction, drafting the pleading, organizing annexures, determining prescribed court fee and appearing for purposes of filing related objections.
Review of Section 13 notices, possession proceedings, Section 14 applications, auction papers and relevant limitation and filing of Section 17 application may be done for SARFAESI cases by BK Singh Advocate.
Original Applications, replies, counterclaims, interim applications, Recovery Officer proceedings and appellate issues can be worked on for RDB Act.
Legal representation should not be viewed as a guarantee to any specific result. Rather the value lies in knowing that your matter is presented to the appropriate forum via the correct statutory procedure supported by whatever record is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does DRT accept filing of cases online in 20 26?
Yes. As of now the official DRT/DRAT website states – “Filing of pleadings before the Tribunal/appellate tribunal by e-mail is mandatory and no other mode of filing will be accepted for recording”.
It is subject to the latest instructions on the e-DRT website as technical requirements and instructions can change from time to time.
2. Minimum amount for which bank can file OA against customer before DRT?
RDB Act limit was enhanced from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh in the year 2018.
Government publications are still recognising ₹20 lakh pecuniary limit under the RDB Act.
This pecuniary limit is in terms of initiation of recovery proceedings under RDB Act. The same cannot be mechanically applied to determine whether the borrower has the right to approach DRT to challenge SARFAESI actions under Section 17.
3. What is the court fee for ₹20 lakh bank recovery OA in DRT?
By the Rule 7 metric, the fee amounts to ₹22,000 ( ₹12,000 + ₹1000 for every ₹1 lakh above ₹10 lakh)
Subject to the prescribed maximum fee of ₹1,50,000 under Rule 7.
4. What is the maximum court fee for borrower’s Section 17 SARFAESI application?
₹1,00,000 for an application by a borrower whose debt is ₹10 lakh or more. The prescribed formula is ₹5,000 plus ₹250 for every ₹1 lakh or part thereof in excess of ₹10 lakh.
Maximum ₹1,00,000.
Note: The court fee payable by an aggrieved applicant other than the borrower is lower as per another statutory schedule.
5. Is filing fee same for OA & SARFAESI application?
No.
The fee schedule for filing an Original Application under the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 (“RDB Act”) is different from that for filing an application under Section 17 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (“SARFAESI”).
BK Singh Advocate can help you determine the appropriate forum to begin with so that the correct filing fee can be calculated.
6. What is the fee for filing an IA in DRT?
250 INR.
Although a lower fee is prescribed, the nature of relief demanded should still be clearly stated in the application especially if immediate interim relief in terms of stay is being demanded.
7. Can I file case in DRT without Advocate?
As per the statutes governing procedure before Tribunal and right to representation, parties are normally entitled to be represented.
However, DRT proceedings generally involve questions of jurisdiction, limitation, SARFAESI interpretation, evidence and interim- relief. Such matters can benefit from the assistance of a professional where the case involves possession of property, auction or significant recovery amounts.
8. What happens when a case gets e-filed in DRT?
It goes to the Registry.
If there are any discrepancies such as missing documents, mis-stated information, defective authorization or court-fee shortfalls, the applicant will be required to make necessary amendments for the matter to progress further.
Otherwise, the case will be entered into the DRT system and proceed in the usual manner.
9. Can I get DRT filing fee refunded if my case against bank is settled?
Court fee can be refunded in certain RDB Act recovery cases that are settled.
As amended in 20 26, Rule 4 of the Refund of Court Fees Rules allows either the applicant or joint application by the applicant and defendant, as the case may be, to seek a refund instead of requiring every application to be jointly made.
Refund will depend on the provisions of the Rules and the stage of the proceeding at which the case is settled.
10. Who can help me verify DRT jurisdiction, documents for filing & Court fees?
An advocate who practices law in banking recovery and SARFAESI matters would know how to examine the correct forum (Tribunal), statutory remedy available, limitation period, documents to be filed and court fee payable.
BK Singh Advocate and DRT Lawyers can help you with matters in DRT and DRAT across Delhi NCR and some other Indian jurisdictions depending on where the properties and facts are located and the nature of proceeding you wish to initiate.
11. Can DRT reject filing if court fee is not paid as per column 4 of Schedule I?
Yes. Registry can reject the filing if the fee paid is less than the prescribed amount or if the fee is paid as per a different fee category.
The correct court fee depends on whether the filing is an OA, Section 17 SARFAESI application, Review Application, counterclaim, IA or some other type of filing.
12. Can single DRT application be made for multiple properties owned by me?
Potentially, if the properties against which reliefs are being claimed are part of the same recovery/sarfaesi proceeding and fall under the pecuniary jurisdiction of the Tribunal.
Cross-jurisdictional properties and properties relating to separate causes of action would need to be verified for maintainability.
13. What will happen if I select wrong DRT during e-filing?
You may end up filing your matter before a Tribunal with no territorial jurisdiction to hear the case.
The opposing party can make a territorial jurisdiction objection, request a transfer or the Tribunal can reject the filing altogether. Jurisdiction can be determined from RDB Act and territorial definition of DRTs as established by the respective High Courts.
14. Do I need to pay separate court fee for seeking interim stay from DRT?
Interlocutory application filed before Tribunal normally attract the prescribed fee mentioned for an IA in the DRT procedural rules.
If seeking urgent relief in terms of stay of auction, possession etc. through an interim application, such application should be filed along with requisite supporting documents and correct fee.
15. Can I pay court fee after filing a case in DRT?
Ordinarily, no. The required fee should form part of your filing. If the filing fee is missing or there is some defect in how the fee was paid, the registry will notify you to rectify the same in the prescribed manner.
Deliberately filing a case without paying the requisite court-fee can lead to avoidable penalties under the law.
16. Can I upload scanned photocopies while filing in DRT?
If scanning was done properly and the documents uploaded are readable, yes.
Scan copies of documents are typically uploaded while e-filing. However, files that are blurred, incomplete or poorly scanned may not be accepted by the registry.
17. Is certified copy of all documents required for DRT filing?
It depends on the nature of proceeding and the particular document.
While certain applications/petitions may only require a true copy of documents, there may be instances where certified copies become important. For example, certain orders, appeals or disputed documents.
The requirement for each document should be analyzed at the time of filing.
18. Can a company file case in DRT through its employee?
As long as the employee is properly authorised under the law and complies with procedural requirements, yes.
The employee should ideally be authorised by the Board Resolution, Power of Attorney, Authorization letter or any other valid corporate document.
19. Can defects in DRT e-filing be corrected?
Typically, yes. If there are any filing defects noted by the registry, they can notify you to make the necessary changes as per DRT filing procedure.
Typical examples of filing defects include annexures missing from the filing, wrong pagination, missing party information, defective authorization, court-fee shortfalls, etc.
20. Should I verify Limitation before paying DRT filing fee?
Yes. Limitation should always be verified before making a filing because once the fee is paid, such right cannot be reclaimed even if the DRT refuses to entertain a time-barred application.
BK Singh Advocate can also verify limitation along with applicable remedy, jurisdiction and court fee before your filing is submitted to the Tribunal.
Final Thoughts
There is no single magic number for DRT filing fees/petition.
A bank filing an Original Application under the RDB Act would be following a different statutory path as compared to a borrower filing a Section 17 application under SARFAESI. Counter claims, reviews, interim applications and Recovery Officer Appeals have their own set of requirements and fees.
The filing of pleadings by applicants has been mandated through the DRT system only from 2026 onwards.
If time is of the essence in matters such as possession, auction, recoveries or appeals, identification of the above issues late will lead to unnecessary confusion.
DRT filings, SARFAESI applications, statutory fees, case document collection and forum requirements can be reviewed by BK Singh Advocate and DRT Advocates for cases across Delhi, New Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and other regions in India.
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