Interlocutory DRT orders affecting rights are appealable, and Article 227 cannot bypass the statutory appellate remedy.

An interlocutory order of the Debt Recovery Tribunal in proceedings under Section 19 is appealable under the Act if it affects rights or liabilities. Where such an adequate and efficacious statutory appeal exists, supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 should not be used to bypass the appellate framework. A writ petition challenging the Tribunal's refusal to stay proceedings was therefore not maintainable, because the proper course was to pursue the statutory remedy before the Appellate Tribunal.

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Issues: Whether a writ petition under Article 227 was maintainable against the Debt Recovery Tribunal's order refusing to stay proceedings, when a statutory appeal was available under the Act.

Analysis: The statutory scheme conferred jurisdiction on the Tribunal to entertain and decide applications for recovery of debts and on the Appellate Tribunal to hear appeals against orders made under the Act. An order passed in pending proceedings under Section 19, including an interlocutory order, is an order under the Act if it affects rights or liabilities, and is therefore appealable under Section 20. The availability of such an adequate and efficacious appellate remedy meant that supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 was not to be invoked to bypass the statutory mechanism.

Conclusion: The writ petition was not maintainable, as the impugned order was appealable under Section 20 and the petitioner had to pursue the statutory remedy.

Final Conclusion: The challenge to the Tribunal's refusal to stay proceedings was rejected because the dispute fell within the statutory appellate framework, and the constitutional writ remedy could not be used as a substitute for that appeal.

Ratio Decidendi: An interlocutory order of the Debt Recovery Tribunal that affects rights or liabilities is appealable under the Act, and the existence of an adequate statutory appeal bars recourse to writ jurisdiction under Article 227.

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