Government Invites Applications for Chairperson Posts at DRAT Allahabad and Kolkata
The Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, has opened the selection process for appointment to the posts of Chairperson of the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT) at Allahabad and Kolkata. The vacancy circular, dated October 1, 2026, also provides for any unforeseen vacancies that may arise up to December 31, 2026.
The Debts Recovery Tribunals and Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals operate under the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993. Their statutory purpose includes expeditious adjudication and recovery of debts owed to banks and financial institutions, along with matters connected with or incidental to such proceedings. The Ministry’s circular notes that India has five DRATs.
The latest recruitment exercise follows an earlier vacancy circular issued on October 25, 2025, which had also invited applications for the Chairperson posts at Allahabad and Kolkata. The new 2026 circular specifically states that applicants who had applied under the earlier 2025 notification must apply afresh because their previous applications will not be considered for the present selection.
Under the eligibility provisions cited in the new circular, a person can qualify for appointment as Chairperson of a DRAT if the person is or has been a High Court Judge, has been a member of the Indian Legal Service with at least 10 years’ litigation experience and has held the post of Additional Secretary or an equivalent or higher post, or has served as a Presiding Officer of a Debts Recovery Tribunal for three years.
The circular also refers to the Tribunal (Conditions of Service) Amendment Rules, 2023, under which a person who holds or has held the position of Chairperson or Member of any Tribunal may be eligible for reappointment. It further states that a serving Supreme Court or High Court Judge, or a serving member of an organised service, appointed as Chairperson or Member must resign or take voluntary retirement from the parent service before joining the Tribunal.
The tenure specified in the circular is five years or until the Chairperson reaches the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier, with the provision attributed to Section 17(1)(a) of the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2026.
The selection process will be conducted through the Search-Cum-Selection Committee constituted under the Tribunal Reforms Act. According to the Ministry, applications will be scrutinised with regard to the suitability of candidates, with due weightage given to qualifications and experience. Shortlisted candidates will be called for personal interaction, after which the final selection will be based on the Committee’s overall evaluation of qualifications, experience and personal interaction.
The application requires detailed professional and service information. Among other documents, applicants are required to submit their biodata, the prescribed certificate from the employer or forwarding authority where applicable, and attested copies of their latest CR/APAR records covering at least the five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. Serving candidates are also required to provide cadre clearance and vigilance or disciplinary clearance.
The prescribed application form seeks information covering educational qualifications, employment history, judicial or legal-service experience, experience as a DRT Presiding Officer, adjudicating and administrative experience, the number of cases disposed of during the previous two years, publications or honours, professional affiliations and any pending or contemplated vigilance or disciplinary proceedings.
The application process also contains detailed declarations concerning the accuracy of information, withdrawal of candidature, acceptance of appointment if selected and joining within 30 days of the appointment order. The form states that violation of specified conditions could result in a period of debarment from consideration for appointments outside the cadre and in autonomous, statutory or regulatory bodies.
The Ministry has prescribed scrutiny of vigilance and disciplinary records as part of the process. The vigilance-clearance format seeks information on matters including previous vigilance allegations, penalties, pending disciplinary or criminal proceedings and any action contemplated against the officer.
The new vacancy exercise concerns appointments at tribunals that handle appellate proceedings arising from India’s debt-recovery framework. The Ministry’s circular makes clear that the selection will consider professional qualifications, relevant experience and personal interaction rather than merely the submission of an application.
The prescribed application and advertisement have been made available through the Department of Financial Services’ vacancies section. Applicants have been directed to submit the duly completed original application through the prescribed channel to the Under Secretary (DRT), Department of Financial Services, Jeevan Deep Building, Sansad Marg, New Delhi.
