Chapter III THE DISTRICT LEVEL DWELLING PLACE PROTECTION COMMITTEE

Constitution of the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee.—The Government shall, by notification, constitute in each district the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee for the purpose of this Act.

Composition of the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee.—

1. (1) The District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee shall have the following members, namely:—
   • (i) District Development Commissioner - Chairperson, Ex-officio;
   • (ii) Principal Agriculture Officer - Member, Ex-officio;
   • (iii) Deputy Director of Panchayat - Member, Ex-officio;
   • (iv) A representative of the District Disaster Management Authority - Member, Ex-officio;
   • (v) Deputy Collector (Disaster Management) - Member, Ex-officio, who shall be the Member Secretary of the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee;
   • (vi) One representative each from the co-operative sector and banking sector to be nominated by the Government - Member, Ex-officio;
   • (vii) Lead District Manager - Member, Ex-officio.
2. (2) For the purpose of verifying the applications received under section 8 and for giving recommendation, the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee shall constitute sub-committees, as prescribed, by including the members of the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee.

Application.—Any person who has to get benefits under this Act shall submit an application in the form as prescribed together with allied documents as prescribed before the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee.

Powers and functions of the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee.—(1) The District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee shall have the following powers and functions, namely:—

1. (i) to take appropriate steps for conducting preliminary inquiry, as prescribed, on any application under section 8 after affording an opportunity of being heard to the parties concerned and the representatives of the financial institution and to take necessary conciliation measures for amicably resolving the repayment liabilities and thereby rearrange the repayment amount or remit the interest amount or rearrange the installments or evolve any other temporary debt relief measures;
2. (ii) when the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee has satisfied that there is no means for the debtor or the family members for making repayment or when there is no scope for conciliation, it shall, after recording the reasons thereof, submit to the State Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee recommendations including taking over of the repayment amount fully or partially by the Government.

1. (2) Before submitting recommendations under clause
   • (ii) of sub-section (1), the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee shall conduct an inquiry in the manner as prescribed and shall submit to the State Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee a detailed report along with the documents as detailed herein after, namely:—
   • (i) the statement of asset valuation including the market value of the property mortgaged calculated in the manner as prescribed;
   • (ii) certificate from the Tahasildar of the Taluk concerned showing whether the debtor or family has received house under any of the housing schemes of the Government or has assigned land;
   • (iii) recommendation of the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee as to whether making of repayment is advantageous when comparing the existing market value of the properties mortgaged with that of the amount which has to be given by way of repayment;
   • (iv) report regarding the requirement of providing another dwelling place by including it in any of the rehabilitation scheme or housing scheme of Government instead of taking over by the Government the repayment liability, fully or partially;
   • (v) the assessment/findings of the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee regarding the reasons which had prevented the loan repayment;
   • (vi) report regarding the probability of subjecting the remaining properties/ structures situated in the mortgaged property to attachment or recovery proceedings by protecting the single dwelling place alone;
   • (vii) other recommendations required for abating the legal proceedings initiated by the financial institutions against the mortgaged property or for stopping the sale proceedings or for evolving measures for not to be evicted, taken under the auspices of State Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee after conducting discussions with the representatives of State Level Bankers Committee and the financial institution;
   • (viii) other documents as may be prescribed.
2. (3) The District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee shall, on an application under section 8, take action within thirty working days from the date of receipt of the application: Provided that the Chairperson of the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee has satisfied that there is sufficient reason for extending the time limit may, after recording reasons thereof, extend it for fifteen working days.

The headquarters of the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee.—The headquarters of the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee shall be at the District Collectorate.

Officers and Staff.—The Government may depute officers and staff required for the functioning of the State Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee in the manner as prescribed.

Meeting, quorum, proceedings etc.—The meeting, quorum, proceedings etc. of the District Level Dwelling Place Protection Committee shall be in the manner as prescribed.