The Uttar Pradesh Rural Weaker Sections (Moratorium on Recovery of Debts) Act, 1975

328 THE UTTAR PRADESH RURAL WEAKER SECTIONS (MORATORIUM ON RECOVERY OF DEBTS) ACT, 1975 [U.P. Act No. 51 of 1975] (As passed by the Uttar Pradesh Legislature) AN ACT to provide for a moratorium on recovery of debts from landless agricultural labourers, small and marginal farmers, and rural artisans, with a view to facilitating further action for liquidation of indebtedness of such weaker sections of the people.

It is hereby enacted in the Twenty-sixth year of the Republic of India as follows:-- Short title extent and commencement 1- (1) This Act may be called the Uttar Pradesh Rural Weaker Sections Moratorium on Recovery of Debts) Act, 1975.

(2) It extends to the whole of Uttar Pradesh.

(3) It shall come into force at once.

definitions 2- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires---

(i) ‘artisan” means a person who does not hold any agricultural land and whose main source of livelihood is manufacture or repair of traditional tools, implements and other articles or things used for agriculture or purposes ancillary thereto, and includes a person who normally earns his livelihood by practicing a craft either by his own labour or by the labour of any member of his family in any rural area;

(ii) “Civil Court” includes---

(a) any court exercising jurisdiction under the Provincial Insolvency Act, 1920;

(b) a Nyaya Panchayat established under the U.P. Panchayat Raj Act, 1947;

(c) a court exercising powers under the Provincial Small Causes Courts Act, 1887;

(iii) ‘Co-operative society” means a society registered or deemed to be registered under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Co-operative Societies Act, 1965;

(iv) “debt” means an advance in cash or kind, whether decreed or not, and includes any transaction which is in substance a debt;

(v) “landless agricultural labourer” means a person who does not hold any agricultural land and whose main source of livelihood is manual labour on agricultural land;

(vi) “marginal farmer” means a person whose main source of livelihood is cultivation and who holds land measuring not more than one hectare in Uttar Pradesh;

(vii) “protected debtor” means a person, ordinarily residing in a rural area of Uttar Pradesh, who is a landless agricultural labourer, an artisan or a small or marginal farmer;

(viii) “rural area” has the same meaning as is assigned to it in the Uttar Pradesh Kshettra Samitis and Zial Parishad Adhiniyam, 1961;

(ix) “small farmer” means a person whose main source of livelihood is cultivation and who holds land measuring more than one hectare but not more than two hectares in Uttar Pradesh and in the districts of Bundelkhand, the measurement of such area shall be 1.5 hectares to 3 hectares.

329 [The Uttar Pradesh Rural Weaker Sections Moratorium on Recovery of Debts) Act, 1975] [Section 3-5] Moratorium debts 3- Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, or in any contract or decree or other instrument having force by virtue of any such law---

(a) No suit, appeal, application or execution or other proceedings for or relating to the recovery of any debt against a protected debtor shall be instituted presented, or commenced for a period of one year from the date of commencement of this Act;

(b) any such suit, appeal, application or execution or other proceeding, pending on the date of such commencement, shall be and remain stayed during the said period of one year;

(c) any protected debtor arrested or detained in execution of any decree for any debt shall be released and any property of a protected debtor attached in such execution shall cease forthwith on the commencement of this Act :

Provided that the State Government may, from time to time by notification in the Gazette, extend the said period of one year by such further period, not exceeding six months at a time as it deems fit, so, however, that such further periods shall not exceed two years in the aggregate.

Exclusion from period of limitation 4- In computing the period of limitation for any suit, appeal, application or proceeding specified in section 3, instituted, presented, or commenced after the commencement of this Act, which might otherwise have been instituted, presented or commenced during the periods referred to in that section, such periods shall be excluded.

Savings 5- Nothing in this Act shall affect any debt or other liability of any protected debtor falling under the following heads, namely---

(a) any rent due in respect of any property let out to such debtor;

(b) any transaction evidenced by a registered document or a transaction of mortgage by deposit of title deeds;

(c) any liability arising out of breach of trust or any tortious liability;

(d) any liability in respect of wages or remuneration due as salary or otherwise for services rendered;

(e) any liability in respect of maintenance, whether under a decree of court or otherwise;

(f) a debt due to---

(i) the Central Government or any State Government;

(ii) any local authority;

(iii) any banking company as defined in the Uttar Pradesh Public Moneys (Recovery of Dues) Act, 1972;

(iv) any corporation as defined in the Uttar Pradesh Public Moneys (Recovery of Dues) Act, 1972;

(v) any co-operative society;

(vi) any Government company within the meaning of the Companies Act, 1956;

(vii) the life Insurance Corporation of India;

(g) any debt which represents the price of goods purchased by such debtor;

(h) any compensation payable on account of partition or division of property, or any compensation referred to in section 29-A of the Uttar Pradesh Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953;

(i) any sum recoverable as arrears of land revenue.

330 mÙkj izns”k xzkeh.k fucZy oxZ ¼_.k dh olwyh dk vf/kLFkxu½ vf/kfu;e] 1975 ¿mÙkj izns”k vf/kfu;e la[;k 51] 1975À THE UTTAR PRADESH RURAL WEAKER SECTIONS (MORATORIUM ON RECOVERY OF DEBTS) ACT, 1975 [U.P. Act No. 51 of 1975] 331 mÙkj izns”k xzkeh.k fucZy oxZ ¼_.k dh olwyh dk vf/kLFkxu½ vf/kfu;e] 1975 ¿mÙkj izns”k vf/kfu;e la[;k 51] 1975À ¿tSlk mÙkj izns”k fo/kku e.My }kjk ikfjr gqvkÀ Hkwfeghu df̀’k&Jfed] y|q vkSj lhekUr d’̀kdksa vkSj xzkeh.k f”kfYi;ksa ls _.k dh olwyh ds vf/kLFkxu dk micU/k turk ds ,sls fucZy oxksZa dh _.kxzLrrk ds lekiu ds fy, vxzsrj dk;Zokgh dks lqfo/kktud cukus dh n`f’V ls djus ds fy, vf/kfu;e Hkkjr x.kjkT; ds NCchlosa o’kZ esa fuEufyf[kr vf/kfu;e cuk;k tkrk gS %& 1& ¼1½ ;g vf/kfu;e mÙkj izns”k xzkeh.k fucZy oxZ ¼_.k dh olwyh dk vf/kLFkxu½ vf/kfu;e] 1975 dgk tk;xkA ¼2½ bldk foLrkj lEiw.kZ mÙkj izns”k esa gksxkA ¼3½ ;g rqjUr izoÙ̀k gksxkA laf{kIr uke] foLrkj rFkk izkjEHk 2&& bl vf/kfu;e esa] tc rd fd lUnHkZ ls vU;Fkk visf{kr u gks& ¼1½ ^^f”kYih** dk rkRi;Z ml O;fDr ls gS] ftlds ikl dksbZ df̀’k Hkwfe ugha gS vkSj ftldh thfodk dk eq[; lk/ku ijEijkxr vkStkj midj.k vkSj vU; oLrqvksa ;k lkeku dk fuekZ.k ;k ejEer djuk gS] tks df̀’k ;k mlls lacaf/kr iz;kstuksa ds fy;s mi;ksx esa yk;s tk,a] vkSj f”kYih ds vUrxZr og O;fDr Hkh gS tks lkekU;r;k viuh thfodk dksbZ f”kYi ;k rks Lo;a vius Je ls ;k vius ifjokj ds fdlh lnL; ds Je ls djds fdlh xzkeh.k {ks= esa pykrk gS( ¼2½ ^^flfoy U;k;ky;** ds vUrxZr& ¼d½ izkUrh; fnokyk vf/kfu;e] 1920 ds v/khu vf/kdkfjrk dk iz;ksx djus okyk dksbZ U;k;ky;]

¼[k½ ;w0ih0 iapk;rjkt ,sDV] 1947 ds v/khu LFkkfir dksbZ U;k; iapk;r] ¼x½ izkUrh; y?kqokn U;k;ky; vf/kfu;e] 1887 ds v/khu “kfDr;ksa dk iz;ksx djus okyk dksbZ U;k;ky;]

Hkh gS ( ¼3½ ^^lgdkjh lfefr** dk rkRi;Z mÙkj izns”k lgdkjh lfefr vf/kfu;e] 1965 ds micU/kksa ds v/khu jftLVªhdr̀ dh xbZ ;k jftLVªhdr̀ le>h xbZ fdlh lfefr ls gS( ¼4½ ^^_.k** dk rkRi;Z udn vFkok oLrq ds :i esa fdlh vf/knk; ls gS] pkgs mlds fy, fMØh gqbZ gks vFkok ugha] vkSj blds vUrxZr dksbZ ,slk laO;ogkj Hkh gks tks lkj :i esa _.k gks( ¼5½ ^^Hkwfeghu df̀’k Jfed** dk rkRi;Z ml O;fDr ls gS] ftlds ikl dksbZ df̀’k Hkwfe ugha gS vkSj ftldh thfodk dk eq[; lk/ku df̀’k Hkwfe ij “kkjhfjd Je gS( ¼6½ ^^lhekUr d’̀kd** dk rkRi;Z ml O;fDr ls gS] ftldh thfodk dk eq[; lk/ku df̀’k gS vkSj ftlds ikl mÙkj izns”k esa ,d gsDVs;j ls vf/kd {ks=Qy dh Hkwfe ugha gS] ¼7½ ^^lajf{kr _.kh** dk rkRi;Z mÙkj izns”k ds xzkeh.k {ks= esa lk/kkj.kr;k fuokl djus okys ,sls O;fDr ls gS] tks Hkwfeghu d`f’k Jfed] f”kYih ;k y?kq ;k lhekUr d̀’kd gSa] ¼8½ ^^xzkeh.k {ks=** dk ogh vFkZ gksxk] tks mls mÙkj izns”k {ks= lfefr rFkk ftyk ifj’kn~ vf/kfu;e] 1961 esa fn;k x;k gS ( ¼9½ ^^y?kq d’̀kd** dk rkRi;Z ml O;fDr ls gS] ftldh thfodk dk eq[; lk/ku d̀f’k gS vkSj ftlds ikl mÙkj izns”k esa Hkwfe ,d gsDVs;j ls vf/kd gS fdUrq nks gsDVs;j ls vf/kd {ks=Qy dh ugha gS] fdUrq cqUnsy[k.M ds ftyksa esa ,slh lhek dk {ks=Qy Ms<+ gsDVs;j ls rhu gsDVs;j rd gksxkA ifjHkk’kk,a 332 ¿mÙkj izns”k xzkeh.k fucZy oxZ ¼_.k dh olwyh dk vf/kLFkxu½ vf/kfu;e] 1975À ¿/kkjk 3&5À 3&& rRle; izòfÙk fdlh vU; fof/k esa vFkok ,slh lafonk ;k fMØh ;k vU; fyf[kr esa tks ,slh fdlh fof/k ds vk/kkj ij izHkkoh gks] fdlh ckr ds gksrs gq, Hkh && ¼d½ fdlh lajf{kr _.kh ds fo:) fdlh _.k dh olwyh ds fd;s ;k mlls lacaf/kr dksbZ okn] vihy] vkosnu ;k fu’iknu ;k vU; dk;Zokgh bl vf/kfu;e ds izkjEHk ds fnukad ls ,d o’kZ dh vof/k esa lafLFkr] izLrqr ;k izkjEHk ugha dh tk;sxh ( ¼[k½ ,slk dksbZ okn] vihy] vkosnu ;k fu’iknu ;k vU; dk;Zokgh] tks ,sls izkjEHk ds fnukad ij fopkjk/khu gks] ,d o’kZ dh mDr vof/k esa LFkfxr dh tk;sxh vkSj jgsxh( ¼x½ fdlh _.k ds fy, fdlh fMØh ds fu’iknu esa fxj¶rkj ;k fu:) lajf{kr _.kh eqDr dj fn;k tk;xk vkSj ,sls fu’iknu esa dh xbZ fdlh lajf{kr _.kh dh fdlh lEifÙk dh dqdhZ bl vf/kfu;e ds izkjEHk ij rqjUr lekfIr gks tk;xh % ijUrq jkT; ljdkj le;&le; ij xtV esa vf/klwpuk }kjk ,d o’kZ dh mDr vof/k dh ,slh vxzrj vof/k ds fy,] tSlh og mfpr le>s] c<+k ldrh gS] tks ,d ckj N% ekl ls vf/kd u gksxh] fdUrq bl izdkj dh og vxzrj vof/k dqy feykdj nks o’kZ ls vf/kd ugha gksxhA _.k dk LFkxu 4&& /kkjk 3 esa fofufnZ’V fdlh okn] vihy] vkosnu ;k dk;Zokgh ds fy,] tks bl vf/kfu;e ds izkjEHk ds i”pkr~ lafLFkr] izLrqr ;k izkjEHk dh tk; vkSj tks mDr /kkjk esa fufnZ’V vof/k ds Hkhrj vU;Fkk lafLFkr] izLrqr ;k izkjEHk dh xbZ gksrh] ifjlhek vof/k dh x.kuk es mDr vof/k dk viotZu fd;k tk;sxkA ifjlhek vof/k dk viotZu 5&& bl vf/kfu;e dh fdlh ckr dk izHkko fuEufyf[kr “kh’kZdksaa ds vUrxZr vkus okys fdlh lajf{kr _.kh ds fdlh _.k ;k vU; nkf;Roksa ij ugha igqapsxk( vFkkZr~ %& ¼d½ ,sls _.kh dks fdjk;s ij nh xbZ fdlh lEifÙk ds laca/k esa ns; dksbZ fdjk;k ( ¼[k½ jftLVªhdr̀ nLrkost }kjk lkf{kr dksbZ laO;ogkj ;k gd foys[kksa ds fu{ksi }kjk cU/kd dk dksbZ laO;ogkj] ¼x½ U;kl&Hkax ls mn~Hkwr dksbZ nkf;Ro vFkok dksbZ vidR̀; laca/kh nkf;Ro( ¼?k½ dh xbZ lsokvksa ds fy;s osru ds :i esa ;k vU;Fkk ns; etnwjh vFkok ikfjJfed ds laca/k esa dksbZ nkf;Ro ( ¼³½ Hkj.k&iks’k.k ds laca/k esa dksbZ nkf;Ro] pkgs og U;k;ky; dh fMØh ds v/khu gks vFkok vU;Fkk ( ¼p½ fuEufyf[kr dks ns; dksbZ _.k& ¼1½ dsUnzh; ljdkj vFkok dksbZ jkT; ljdkj ( ¼2½ dksbZ LFkkuh; izkf/kdkjh ( ¼3½ mÙkj izns”k yksd&/ku ¼ns;ksa dh olwyh½ vf/kfu;e] 1972 esa ;Fkk ifjHkkf’kr dksbZ cSafdx dEiuh ( ¼4½ mÙkj izns”k yksd&/ku ¼ns;ksa dh olwyh½ vf/kfu;e] 1972 esa ;FkkifjHkkf’kr dksbZ fuxe ( ¼5½ dksbZ lgdkjh lfefr ( ¼6½ dEiuh vf/kfu;e] 1956 ds vFkkZUrxZr dksbZ ljdkjh dEiuh ( ¼7½ Hkkjrh; thou chek fuxe ( ¼N½ dksbZ _.k tks ,sls _.kh }kjk Ø; fd;s x, eky dh dher ds ckjs eas gks ( ¼t½ lEifÙk ds foHkktu ;k caVokjs ds dkj.k ns; dksbZ izfrdj] vFkok mÙkj izns”k tksr pdcUnh vf/kfu;e] 1953 dh /kkjk 29&d esa fufnZ’V dksbZ izfrdj ( ¼>½ Hkw&jktLo ds cdk;k ds :i esa olwy dh tkus okyh dksbZ /kujkf”kA viokn