The Kerala Agricultural Debtors (Temporary Relief) Act, 2001
The Kerala Agricultural Debtors (Temporary Relief) Act, 2001
Finance200121 sections
This Act provides temporary relief to small-scale farmers and agricultural laborers in Kerala by imposing a twelve-month moratorium on legal proceedings. It specifically targets individuals who own or work on land of limited size and income, protecting them from immediate debt recovery lawsuits, appeals, or executions of decrees during this period. The legislation aims to give struggling agricultural families a breathing space to stabilize their finances and livelihoods without the pressure of ongoing court battles, effectively pausing creditor actions against them for a defined timeframe.
- 0. Preamble
- 1. Short title and commencement.
- 2. Definitions.
- 3. Bar of suits, applications, criminal proceedings and other proceedings.
- 4. Payment of debt in instalments.
- 5. Interest payable on debts.
- 6. Application for payment towards debt and limit of time for execution of decree.(1) When any amount has been paid or recovered towards any debt referred to in section 4, the court, or the tribunal shall apply it in the order of, costs due under the decree (where the debt has ripened into a decree), then interest as recalculated under section 5 and then towards principal.
- 7. Power of Court to decide doubts and disputes regarding amount payable under section 4.
- 8. Amendment of certain decrees.
- 9. Decree and orders against agriculturist.
- 10. Deposit of debt in court.
- 11. Application to court by persons unable to pay their debts.
- 12. Presumption as to transfer of immovable property of agriculturist.
- 13. Exclusion from benefits.
- 14. Limitations.
- 15. Special provision for settlement of certain loans taken by an agriculturist from banks.
- 16. Re-schedule of loans taken by an agriculturist from financial institutions.
- 17. Appeal.
- 18. Overriding effect of Act.
- 19. Power to remove difficulties.
- 20. Power to make rules.
PDF: pending for this language.