The Kerala Debtors (Temporary Relief) Act, 1975
The Kerala Debtors (Temporary Relief) Act, 1975
This Act temporarily halts all debt recovery lawsuits, court executions, and interest accumulation for vulnerable borrowers in Kerala, India. It applies specifically to low income agricultural landowners, landless laborers, traditional artisans, and hutment dwellers, while excluding wealthy taxpayers, corporations, and government debts. The law matters because it shields impoverished rural communities from legal actions and the threat of losing their property, giving them vital breathing room to recover financially without the pressure of mounting interest or immediate court proceedings. By freezing debt proceedings for at least a year, the state government protected its most economically disadvantaged rural citizens from financial ruin.
- 0. Preamble
- 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
- 2. Definitions.
- 3. Bar of suits and applications and other proceedings.
- 4. Presumption as to transfer of immovable property of debtor.
- 5. Exclusion from benefits.
- 6. Limitation.
- 7. Interest not to accrue in respect of debts.
- 8. Act to override other laws, contracts, etc.
- 9. Power to make rules.
PDF: pending for this language.