Inspection of documents before replying to a SARFAESI notice was secured, and time to respond was extended.

Where a borrower seeks access to documents before replying to a statutory notice under the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, the Court may secure inspection arrangements and extend the response time. Here, the parties ed the lender's offer to permit inspection of specified documents at Delhi, with photocopies available on payment of charges, and the time to reply to the section 13(2) notice was extended accordingly.

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Issues: Whether the petitioner was entitled to inspection of documents and extension of time to furnish a reply to the notice issued under section 13(2) of the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002.

Analysis: The parties accepted the offer made by the respondent to permit inspection of specified documents at Delhi. The petitioner was also permitted to take inspection and to obtain photocopies on payment of photocopy charges. In view of this arrangement, time to respond to the notice under section 13(2) was extended.

Conclusion: The petitioner was granted inspection of documents and the time to furnish reply to the notice under section 13(2) was extended till 31 August 2021.

Ratio Decidendi: Where the parties arrive at an arrangement for inspection of documents, the Court may dispose of the matter by securing inspection and extending time to respond to a statutory notice.

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