THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An amendment to the law will be brought to allow instalments for arrears in revenue recovery cases. The amendment is intended to restore the provision empowering the government to do this. The amendment will also have a provision to empower the government for recovery stay. The draft amendment was approved by the Law Department. It may come up for consideration in the next cabinet meeting. The move is to introduce the bill in the assembly in September. Or the ordinance will be passed.

In 2017, the government issued an order authorizing instalments in revenue recovery cases between Rs 25,000 and Rs 10 lakh. Tehsildar, District Collector, Revenue, Finance Ministers and Chief Minister were entrusted. But in 2022, the High Court ruled that this order has no legal effect. The order was on a complaint filed by a bank against granting instalments for repayment to the defaulter.

The new amendment proposal states that if the debt is with the government, the government can decide on acquisition. If the revenue department recovers for other institutions, action can be taken subject to the permission of the institutions. For this, a provision will be included in Section 50 of the Kerala Revenue Recovery Act.

The amendment will also include a provision for the government to take over the immovable property of private individuals or firms after 5 years if there is no bidder. The owner is given 5 years to pay the dues and acquire the property.

Ban on excessive interest

* Do not charge more interest than what is stipulated in the contract while confiscating the goods

* Interest will be limited to 9 per cent unless otherwise stated in the contract

* Extortionate interest is currently charged up to 18 per cent

Recovery action

The head of the institution who needs to collect the dues will apply to the district collector. The village officer will visit the defaulter's house or institution and issue a recovery notice. Failure to pay the dues within 30 days will result in forfeiture. If there is land, it will be added to the land name. With that, all land use activities will be disrupted.

The amendment will be made in such a way that the owner of the land subject to confiscation will also be allowed to take it back.

Rajan
(Revenue Minister)