Industries department council resolves 75% MSME-related disputes in Pune division

1 2 3 Pune: A quasi-judicial council formed by the directorate of industries has resolved 4,849 cases pertaining to disputes between the Micro and Small Enterprise Facilitation Council (MSEFC) Pune division. The department received a total of 6,210 cases up to March 2025, taking the disposal rate to 75%, Shailesh Rajput, joint director of industries of the Pune region & chairman of MSEFC, informed. "In FY 2024-25, the industrial facilitation council, Pune Region received 2,198 cases in the Pune division.

In 74 conciliation hearings and 30 arbitration hearings, MSEFC disposed of 1,440 petitions involving Rs 57 crore," Rajput said. MSEFC, Pune region, received the ‘MSEFC Excellence Award 2024' in New Delhi for their performance last year. The dispute resolution mechanism is part of the online MSME Samadhan initiative started by the ministry of MSME, Govt of India and implemented by state govt.



MSMEs can file cases against buyers where payments are delayed or not made. MSEFC is formed by state govt under the chairmanship of the joint director of industries and is convened by the deputy director of industries, who also functions as a member secretary. Zonal officers of the Bank of Maharashtra and chairman of Chakan and Ranjangaon industry associations act as its members.

Pune, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur and Solapur are under the jurisdiction of the council. The council, once the case is before it, hears both the parties as well as carries out scrutiny of the proofs brought before it. Defaulting buyers have to pay the outstanding amount to the suppliers at three times the bank rate prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as per section 18(3) of the Delayed Payment Act .

The current bank rate, as per the RBI website, is 6.5%. MSMEs can file a complaint online while its results are uploaded on the portal.

Any micro or small enterprise with a valid Udyam registration can apply on the portal. The council issues directions to the defaulting buyer for payment of the due amount, along with interest to the MSME..