RBI to frame rules on cleaning up bad debt after Supreme Court squashes Feb 12 circular

Days after SC squashed the RBI's order February 12 circular, newly appointed Governor has said that the Central Bank will soon come up with a revised circular for restructuring stressed assets.

By : ABP News Bureau | Updated at : 05 Apr 2019 12:19 PM (IST)

RBI to frame rules on cleaning up bad debt after Supreme Court squashes Feb 12 circular RBI to frame rules on cleaning up bad debt after Supreme Court squashes Feb 12 circular

The RBI would issue a revised circular without undue delay. (Image: PTI)

SC squashed the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) February 12 circular

Central Bank will soon come up with a revised circular for restructuring stressed assets

Das said that the apex court’s order had not taken away any powers from the RBI

New Delhi: Days after the Supreme Court squashed the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) February 12 circular, newly appointed Governor has said that the Central Bank will soon come up with a revised circular for restructuring stressed assets. “The central bank will take necessary steps including issuance of a revised circular as may be necessary for expeditious resolution of stressed assets,” RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das told reporters in Mumbai on Thursday. “RBI stands committed to maintain and enhance the momentum of resolution of stressed assets and adherence to credit discipline,” he added. Das, however, also mentioned that the apex court’s order had not taken away any powers from the RBI. The powers were still vested with the regulator, he said adding that the circular had to be exercised in a particular manner. The RBI would issue a revised circular without "undue delay", he told reporters after announcing the monetary policy on Thursday. Earlier this week, SC had strike down RBI’s directive that introduced strict timelines to recast bad loans, failing which stressed borrowers had to face bankruptcy. The recent SC verdict delays the clean-up of $190 billion bad-loan pile as lenders will need to re-examine many cases. "We will exercise the powers which Parliament has given to us and see that the resolution is done fast," Das told reporters here. On April 2, a two-judge bench comprising Justice Rohinton Nariman and Justice Vineet Saran had declared the February 12 circular as ‘ultra vires’ of the law. “The banking regulator did not consult the government before issuing the circular, which drags a bunch of companies to the IBC,” the apex court said in its judgement. Under the February 12 RBI circular, banks had to recognise loan defaults of even one-day and commence work for a resolution within 180 days to a stressed account. In case the borrower failed to cobble up a plan within 180 days, it was mandatory for the banks to send the account to the bankruptcy courts.

Published at : 05 Apr 2019 12:19 PM (IST)

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Shaktikanta Das