Vidhi Codex

The Gujarat Rural Debtors' Relief Act, 1976

The Gujarat Rural Debtors' Relief Act, 1976

Finance197631 sections

This Act provides relief to rural residents in Gujarat who are struggling with debt. It specifically targets marginal farmers, small farmers, rural labourers, and rural artisans who owe money on or after the law's start date. By defining who qualifies and how debt is calculated, the law aims to protect these vulnerable groups from financial hardship and help them manage their obligations, ensuring that agricultural and rural livelihoods remain sustainable despite financial pressures.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 0. Preamble
  2. 1. Short title, extent and commencement
  3. 2. Definitions
  4. 3. Discharge or reduction of debt
  5. 4. Right of debtor to refund of amount paid in excess of twice the principal before the appointed day.
  6. 5. Appointment of debt settlement officers.
  7. 6. Duty of debtors and creditors to furnish particulars of debt, etc. to local authority.
  8. 7. Preparation and publication of statement of debts, etc. by local authority.
  9. 8. Application by debtor or creditor for inquiry and power of debt settlement officer to inquire.
  10. 9. Payment of debt
  11. 10. Postponement of payment of instalment in case of remissions, etc.
  12. 11. Bar of civil suits and proceedings in courts
  13. 12. Decision as to status of a debtor of nature or liability, etc.
  14. 13. Appeal
  15. 14. Prohibition against disposal of pledged property
  16. 15. Power of debt settlement officer to enforce delivery of possession of property of debtor
  17. 16. Creditor required to pay value of pledged or mortgaged property in certain cases
  18. 17. Offences
  19. 18. Powers of debt settlement officers in inquiries
  20. 19. Protection of action taken in good faith
  21. 20. Inquiries and proceedings to be judicial proceedings
  22. 21. Powers of entry, search and seizure
  23. 22. Pleaders, etc., excluded from appearance.
  24. 23. Act to override other laws.
  25. 24. Declaration that Act gives effect to certain directive principles.
  26. 25. Application of Act to debts in kind.
  27. 26. Offences by companies.
  28. 27. Exempted debts.
  29. 28. Power to make rules.
  30. 29. Repeal of Guj. 15 of 1976.
  31. Schedule. Schedule

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