The Delhi High Court has upheld the decision to extend the suspension of MM Dhonchak, a retired judicial officer and the former presiding officer of the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT)-II in Chandigarh, for an additional 180 days. Dhonchak’s suspension, which was initially set to conclude on November 9, 2024, will now continue into mid-2025.
Dhonchak’s troubles began with his initial suspension on February 13, 2024, by the Union Ministry of Finance, which has since extended his suspension twice. Appointed to his position on February 20, 2022, Dhonchak faced multiple accusations from members of the Debt Recovery Tribunal Bar Association. The allegations centered around his conduct, which reportedly included harassing counsels and frequently granting unnecessarily long adjournments, leading to delays in the handling of cases.
The relationship between Dhonchak and the Bar Association notably deteriorated, culminating in the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s intervention in October 2022. The High Court noted the strained interactions and initially restrained Dhonchak from issuing any adverse orders. This restriction was later modified, allowing him to proceed with hearing pending cases under specific conditions.
Further complicating matters, the Supreme Court, in May 2023, criticized Dhonchak for contesting adverse remarks made by the high court. Dhonchak argued that these remarks damaged his credibility and reputation. However, the Supreme Court rebuked him for his challenges, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations against him.
