ANDHRA PRADESH CIVIL SERVICES (DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS TRIBUNAL) ACT, 1960

2 of 1960

An Act to provide for the constitution of a Tribunal for Disciplinary Proceedings to inquire into allegations of misconduct on the part of Government Servants and for other matters connected therewith. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Andhra Pradesh in the Tenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:

Section 1 Short title and commencement

(1) This Act may be called the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Disciplinary Proceedings Tribunal) Act, 1960.

(2) It shall come into force on such * date Act as the State Government may by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette appoint.

Section 2 Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:-

(a) Government' means the State Government;

(b) Government Servant' means a person appointed to public services or to a post in connection with the affairs of the State of Andhra Pradesh];

(c) Prescribed' means prescribed by the rules made under this Act;

(d) Tribunal' means the Tribunal constituted under Section 3.

Section 3 Constitution and Composition of Tribunal

(1) The Government shall constitute a Tribunal for Disciplinary Proceedings consisting of one or more members.

(2) The Government may, at any time, by order, appoint one or more additional members to the Tribunal for such period as they may think fit or reduce the number of members of the Tribunal.

(3) Every member of the Tribunal shall be a Judicial Officer of the status of a District Judge and his appointment shall be made by the Government out of a panel of names forwarded by the High Court.

(4) If the Tribunal consists of more than one member. one of the members shall be designated by the Government as the Chairman of the Tribunal.

Section 4 Cases to be referred to Tribunal

The Government may refer to the Tribunal] for enquiry and report such cases as may be prescribed of allegations of misconduct on the part of Government Servants.

Section 4A Government's power to withdraw cases

The Government may, in appropriate cases and for reasons to be recorded in writing withdraw any case referred to the Tribunal at any time before the Tribunal concludes its inquiry

Section 5 Power of Tribunal to summon and examine witness, to direct production of documents and to appoint an assessor

(1) The Tribunal shall, for the purpose of conducting an enquiry under this Act, have the powers of a Civil Court while trying a suit, under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act V of 1908) in respect of the following matters, namely:-

(i) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person;

(ii) requiring the discovery and production of any document; and

(iii) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.

(2) The Tribunal may examine on oath any person supposed to be acquainted with the matter under enquiry or any fact relevant thereto, and may record his evidence.

(3) Every person who is examined under sub-section (1) shall be bound to answer truly or all questions relating to the matter put to him by the Tribunal.

(4) Any person who wilfully or without reasonable execuse, disobeys any summons or order issued under the foregoing sub-sections shall be liable to the penalties laid down for the disobedience of the summons or orders issued by a Civil Court.

(5) The Tribunal may, if it so thinks fit, appoint any person as assessor to assist in conducting an enquiry into any case or cases referred to it.

Section 6 Procedure of Tribunal

(1) If the Tribunal consists of more than one member, an inquiry into a case referred to the Tribunal under Section 4 shall be held by all the members sitting together or by a single member, as the Chairman may direct, and where all the members sit together, the evidence shall be recorded by such member or members as the Chairman may direct.

(2) Unless the Chairman otherwise directs all proceedings at any such inquiry shall be held in camera.

(3) The procedure to be followed by the Tribunal at any such inquiry shall, subject to the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2), be such as may be prescribed.

Section 7 Tribunal to report to Government

On the conclusion of any inquiry, the Tribunal shall report its findings to the Government servant [x x x] Provided that where a single member of the Tribunal holds an inquiry into a case as provided in sub-section (1) of Section 6, he alone shall report his findings [x x x] and his report to the Government in this regard shall be deemed to be the report of the Tribunal for the purposes of this Act;

Provided further that where such single member does not examine any witness and record evidence but only hears arguments in such an enquiry and reports his findings, the hearing of arguments alone by him shall be deemed to be an enquiry under sub-section (1) of Section 6.

Section 8 Order of Government

The Government shall consider the report of the Tribunal in the prescribed manner and pass such orders thereon as they think fit.

Section 9 Protection of action taken under this Act

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or of any rules made thereunder.

Section 10 Power to make rules

(1) The Government may, by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, make rules for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Act.

(2) Any rule made under this Act may be made with retrospective effect from any date not earlier than the date of commencement of this Act and when such a rule is made, the reasons for so making the rule shall be specified in a statement to be laid before the Legislative Assembly of the State.

(3) Every rule made under this Act, shall immediately after it is made, be laid before the Legislative Assembly of the State, if it is in session and if it is not in session, in the session immediately following, for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions, and if before the expiration of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following the Legislative Assembly agrees in making any modification in the rule or in the annulment of the rule, the rule shall, from the date on which the modification or annulment is notified, have effect only in such modified form or shall stand annuled as the case may be so however that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

Section 11 Repeals and Savings

(1) The Hyderabad Public Servants, (Tribunal of Inquiry) Act, 1950 (Hyderabad Act XXIII of 1950), the Andhra Civil Service (Disciplinary Proceedings Tribunal) Rules, 1953, and the Andhra Tribunal for Disciplinary Proceedings (Summoning and Examination of Witnesses and Documents) Act, 1956 (Andhra Act XXVIII of 1956) are hereby repealed:

Provided that such repeal shall not affect the previous operation of the repealed laws.

(2) From the date on which this Act comes into force, the Tribunal constituted under the repealed law shall be deemed to have been abolished and all cases pending before the said Tribunal on the said date shall be deemed to have been referred to the Tribunal and shall be disposed of by it under the provisions of the repealed laws as if it was a Tribunal constituted under those laws and such cases were referred to it:

Provided that where a single member of the Tribunal holds an inquiry into a case as provided in any repealed laws, he alone shall report his findings and recommend the penalties and his report to the government in his record shall be deemed to be the report of the Tribunal for the purposes of the repealed laws.

RULE:

Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Disciplinary Proceedings Tribunal) Rules, 1989

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 10 of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Disciplinary Proceedings Tribunal) Act, 1960 (Act II of 1960), the Government of Andhra Pradesh hereby makes the following rules, in supersession of rules issued in the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Disciplinary Proceedings Tribunal) Rules, 1961, G.O.Ms.No.895, General Administration (Services-D) Department, dated the 18th July, 1961 and published at pages 429-433 in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette Rules supplement to Part-I, dated the

Rule 1

These rules may be called the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Disciplinary Proceedings Tribunal) Rules, 1989.

Rule 2

In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:-

(a) "Act" means the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Disciplinary Proceedings Tribunal) Act, 1960

(b) "Misconduct" shall mean contravention of the rules made under the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India, to regulate the conduct of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the State.

Rule 3

(1) The Government may subject to the provisions of Rule 4, refer to the Tribunal for enquiry and report under Section 4 of the Act-

(a) cases relating to Gazetted Officers in respect of matters involving misconduct;and

(b) cases relating to Non-Gazetted Officers in respect of matters involving misconduct committed by such Government servants either jointly with Gazetted Officers or in the course of the same transaction involving misconduct committed by Gazetted Officers.

(2) Where two or more Government servants are concerned in any case, the Government may make an order directing that disciplinary proceeding against all of them may be taken in a common proceeding; and thereupon the Tribunal shall conduct the enquiry into such case accordingly.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in sub-rule (1) cases arising in the judicial Department and cases of officers and servants of the High Court who come under the rule making control of the Chief Justice as laid down in Article 229 of the Constitution of India shall not be referred to the Tribunal.

Rule 4

(1) In a case of the type referred to in sub-rule (1) of Rule 3, on completion of enquiry or investigation, as the case may be, the Anti-Corruption Bureau or the departmental authority shall, where it is necessary that an inquiry by the Tribunal is called for, submit a report of the case to the Government.

(2) The Government shall after examining such records and after consulting the Head of the Department concerned, if necessary, decide whether the case shall be inquired into by the Tribunal.

(3) If the Government decide that the case shall be enquired into by the Tribunal, they shall send or cause to send, as the case may be, the records relating thereto to the Tribunal.

(4) There shall be a Government Counsel and as many Government Counsels as may be considered necessary, to conduct enquiries on behalf of the Government in disciplinary cases before the Tribunal and the Charged officer concerned shall be allowed to be represented by counsel. In case where the Government Counsel or Counsels cannot attend to examination of witnesses on commission, an ad-hoc Government Counsel shall be appointed.

Rule 5

The Tribunal may sit at such places as it may determine, with due regard to the convenience of the parties concerned and expenses involved.

Rule 6

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1963, the following procedure shall be followed by the Tribunal in conducting enquiries into cases of misconduct referred to it under Section 4 of the Act.

(a) As soon as the records relating to allegations of misconduct against a Government Servant are received, the Tribunal shall frame appropriate charges and communicate them to the Government servant charged, together with a list of witnesses proposed to be examined in respect of each of the charges and with information as to the date and place of enquiry.

(b) The Tribunal shall, before the date fixed for enquiry, furnish copies of the statements of witnesses proposed to be examined and recorded by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the concerned Departments to the Government servant charged for purposes of cross examination. The charge or charges shall at the enquiry, be read over to the Government servant charged and he shall be asked whether he admits or denies the charge or charges. If the Government servant charged admits any of the charges, the Tribunal shall record the plea and return a finding of guilty in respect of the charge or charges as are admitted by him. If the Government servant charged denies any of the charges brought against him, evidence shall be recorded on such of the charge or charges as are not admitted by him.

(c) At the enquiry, oral and documentary evidence shall be first adduced by the prosecution and the Government servant charged shall be entitled to cross examine the prosecution witnesses and to explain any documents produced by the prosecution. The Government servant charged may, thereafter within the time allowed by the Tribunal, file a written statement of his defence together with a list of witnesses whom he wishes to examine stating the points on which he proposes to examine each of them and a list of documents proposed to be summoned, stating the purpose for which such documents are sought to be summoned. He may also offer himself as a witness in his own defence. The oral and documentary evidence on his side may then be adduced and the Government servant charged shall be entitled to advance the necessary arguments. The prosecution shall also be entitled to advance the necessary counter arguments to the Government servant's arguments or file a mere written statement detailing the whole prosecution case. The arguments may be oral or written or both and when time is requested for written arguments by either party, a reasonable time shall be granted.

(d) The Tribunal shall, as far as possible, observe the basic rules of evidence relating to the examination of witnesses and the marking of documents and the enquiry shall conform to the principles of natural justice.

(e) The Tribunal on the application of the Government servant charged, shall furnish to him certified copies of depositions of witnesses recorded by the Tribunal and may also furnish to him certified copies of the documents exhibited before the Tribunal.

Provided that the Tribunal may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, refuse to grant certified copy of any such documents: Provided further that the Tribunal shall in every case where it refuses to grant a certified copy of any document asked for, give, under proper supervision, an opportunity to the Government servant charged or to his counsel, if any to inspect the document and take notes.

(f) The Tribunal shall, on the application of the Government Counsel or Additional Government Counsel, furnish to him certified copies of depositions of witnesses recorded by the Tribunal and the documents exhibited before it, on plain unstamped paper.

(g) The Tribunal may also interrogate the Government servant charged after the closure of the prosecution evidence.

(h) For sufficient reasons to be recorded in writing, the Tribunal shall have power to refuse on either side:

(i) to summon and examine any witness;

(ii) to call for and exhibit any document; or

(iii) to recall a witness for further examination

(i) The Tribunal may, if necessary, authorise the Government servant charged or his counsel, if any, to go to the offices where the documents are available in order to enable him either to secure copies of such documents or take necessary extracts from such documents.

(j) The proceedings of the Tribunal shall contain a sufficient record of the evidence.

(2)

(a) After the enquiry has been completed, the Tribunal shall send the report of its findings and recommendations to the Government together with its opinion, in cases in which exoneration of Government servant charged is recommended, whether he is "fully exonerated" for purposes of Fundamental Rule 54 (A). Where the Tribunal does not express any such opinion it shall be presumed by the Government that he is not fully exonerated by the Tribunal

(b) The Government, after receipt of the report from the Tribunal for Disciplinary Proceedings, shall supply a copy of the report of the Tribunal to the charged Government Servant and shall pass final orders after taking into consideration any representation made by him thereto within a reasonable time, ordinarily not exceeding one month. However, it shall not be necessary to give to the person charged any opportunity of making representation on the penalty proposed to be imposed:

Provided that the Government shall consult the Director General, Vigilance and Enforcement in regard to the course of further action to be taken and take the advice into consideration, before orders are passed: Provided further that where the Government disagree with the whole or any part of the Tribunal's findings, the point or points of disagreement together with a brief statement of the grounds therefor shall, in case where it affects the Government servant charged adversely or prejudicially, be communicated along with the enquiry report of the Tribunal.

(c) The Government may, for the reasons to be recorded in writing, remit the case to the Tribunal for enquiry and report, and the Tribunal shall thereupon hold further enquiry.

(3) Where the Government servant charged has absconded or where it is for other reasons impracticable to communicate with him or where he wilfully fails to take part in an enquiry, the enquiry shall be conducted or continued even in his absence.

(4) All or any of the provisions of sub-rule (1) may, in exceptional cases, for special and sufficient reasons to be recorded in writing, be waived by the Tribunal, where there is difficulty in observing the requirements of the sub-rule, and the requirements can be waived without injustice to the person charged.

(5) The provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1963, shall apply in regard to any other matter for which no specific provision has been made in these rules.

(6) Where the Chairman of any Member of the Tribunal is prevented by death, transfer or any other cause from concluding any enquiry or from reporting his findings in any case referred to the Tribunal, his successor may deal with any evidence taken down by his predecessor in office as if such evidence had been taken down by him and may proceed with the enquiry from the stage at which is predecessor has left it, or report his findings to the Government.

Rule 7

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Andhra Pradesh Civil. Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1963, the Government shall be the authority competent to impose a penalty in cases of Government servants enquired into by the Tribunal.

ANDHRA PRADESH (ANDHRA AREA) (SCHEDULED TRIBES) DEBT RELIEF REGULATION RULES, 1960

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 18 of the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Areas Scheduled Tribes) Debt Relief Regulation, 1960 (Andhra Pradesh Regulation II of 1960), Governor of Andhra Pradesh hereby makes the following rules

Rule 1 Short title

These rules may be called the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Areas Scheduled Tribes) Debt Relief Regulation Rules, 1960, and they shall come into force from January, 1961.

Rule 2 Definitions

In these rules

(a) "The Regulation" means the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Areas Scheduled Tribes) Debt Relief Regulation, 1960.

(b) "Form" means a form appended to these rules.

(c) "Section" means a section of the regulation.

Rule 3 Application under Section II

An application under Section II of the regulation shall be in Form - A

Rule 4 Notice under Section 12(1)

The notice under sub section (1) of Section 12 shall be sent by registered post acknowledgment due.

Rule 5 Certificate under Section 12(4)

The certificate under sub section (4) of Section 12 shall be in Form B.

Rule 6 Fees under Section 16 of the Regulation

The fee in the shape of court fee lables of the value as shown below shall be levied on the following:

(a) Appeal under Section 16(1) Rs.

(i)

 to the Agency Divisional Officer against the orders of the Agency

Munsiff

 3.00

(ii)

 to the Agent to the Government against the Order of the Agency

Divisional Officer

 5.00

(iii)

 to the High Court against the orders of the Agent to Government

 10.00

(b)

 Vakalat before the Agency Divisional Officer or Agent to the

Government. Vakalat before the High Court

 2.00

(c)

 Certified copy stamped at the rate of Re.1 for every 360 words

or part thereof

 5.00

APPENDIX A Application Form under Section 11 of Regulation 11 of 1960

FORM - A

Application Form under Section 11 of Regulation 11 of 1960

From :

To,

The Agent to Government ............... District.

The Agency Divisional Officer.

The Agency Munsiff.

The Presiding Officer.

......................................... Court.

Sir,

I ........................ Creditor Debtor Special Officer on behalf of the debtor hereby apply for scaling down the debts of which particulars are given below:-

1. Name and address of the applicant. :

2. Name and address of the debtor creditor. :

3. Amount of loan taken and the date. :

4. Rate of interest per annum. :

5. Amount of loan repaid towards. :

 (a) Principal :

 (b) Interest :

6. Whether the loan is secured or unsecured. :

7. Name and address of the creditor. :

8. Whether any document has been executed :

9. Whether there are any special conditions :

 imposed for repayment of the loan and if so

 what they are.

10. Whether the loan is payable under a decree :

 or order or a civil or Revenue Court or

 otherwise.

APPENDIX B Certificate

FORM - B

Certificate

Sri ..................... son of Sri ................. residing at village .............. the Special Officer ............ Taluk on behalf of Sri ...................... has deposited a sum of rupees .............. on dated ........... 19 which this Court in full satisfaction of the debt due under Section 12 of the Andhra Pradesh Andhra Area Scheduled Tribes) Debt Relief Regulation, 1960 for payment of Sri .................. son of ............ In view of the above payment the debt shall stand discharged.

Station Signature of the Presiding Officer of the Court.

Date: Name of the Court.

REGULATION:

ANDHRA PRADESH (ANDHRA AREAS SCHEDULED TRIBES) DEBT RELIEF REGULATION, 1960

In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (c) of sub paragraph (2) of paragraph 5 of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, with the assent of the President, hereby makes the following Regulation in the Tenth Year of the Republic of India, namely

Regulation 1 Short title, extent and commencement

(1) This Regulation may be called The Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Tribes) Debt Relief Regulation, 1960.

(2) It extends to the whole of the Scheduled areas of the State of Andhra Pradesh.

(3) It shall come into force in the whole of the scheduled areas to which it extends or any part thereof, on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, specify; and the Government may cancel or modify any such notification.

Regulation 2 Definitions

In this Regulation, unless the context otherwise requires

(i) "Agent" Agency Divisional Officer or "Agency Munsif" means the person designated as such by the Government in respect of the Scheduled Areas or any part thereof;

Explanation:- The expression "Agency Munsif" includes an additional Agency Munsif:

(ii) "Creditor" includes his heirs, legal representatives and assigns;

(iii) "debt" means any liability in cash or kind, whether secured, due from a member of a Scheduled Tribe, whether payable under a decree or order of a Civil or Revenue Court or otherwise;

(iv) "debtor" includes his heirs, legal representatives and assigns;

(v) "Government" means the State Government;

(vi) "interest" means any amount or other thing paid or payable in excess of the principal sum borrowed or pecuniary obligation incurred, or where anything has been borrowed in kind, in excess of what has been so borrowed, by whatsoever name such amount or thing may be called, and whether the same is paid or payable entirely in cash or entirely in kind or partly in cash and partly in kind and whether the same is expressly mentioned or not in the document or contract, if any;

(vii) "mortgagee" includes his heirs, legal representatives and assigns;

(viii) "mortgagor" includes his heirs legal representatives and assigns;

(ix) "Scheduled Areas" means the areas which have been or may be declared to be Scheduled Areas by the President under sub paragraph (1) of paragraph 6 of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution;

(x) "Scheduled Tribe" means any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within, any tribe or tribal community resident in the Scheduled Areas and specified as such under Article 342 of the Constitution;

(xi) "Special Officer" means the Special Officer appointed under Section 10.

Regulation 3 Certain debts and liabilities not to be affected

Nothing in this Regulation shall affect debts and liabilities of a member of a Scheduled Tribe falling under the following heads:

(a) any revenue tax or cess payable to the Government or the Central Government or any other sum due to them, by way of loan or otherwise;

(b) any tax or cess payable to any local authority or any other sum due to it, by way of loan or otherwise;

(c) any liability in respect of any sum due to any co operative society, including a land mortgage bank, registered or deemed to be registered under any law relating to Co operative Societies for the time being in force in the State.

Regulation 4 Scaling down of debts

Notwithstanding any law, custom, contract, decree or order or Court to the contrary, all debts payable by a member of a Scheduled Tribe at the commencement of this Regulation whether such debts are incurred within or without the Scheduled areas shall scaled down in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation.

Regulation 5 Manner of scaling down of debts

(1) Debts incurred before the 1st January, 1951, shall be scaled down in the manner mentioned hereunder namely:

(a) All interest outstanding on the 1st January, 1957, in favour of any creditor of a member of a Scheduled Tribe whether the same be payable under any law, custom or contract or under a decree or order of a Court, shall be deemed to be discharged, and only the principal or such portion thereof as may be outstanding shall be deemed to the amount repayable by such member on that date.

(b) Where any member of a Scheduled Tribe has paid to any creditor twice the amount of the principal whether by way of principal or interest or both such debt including the principal, shall be deemed to be wholly discharged.

(c) Where the sums repaid by way of principal or interest or both fall short of twice the amount of the principal such amount only as would make up that shortage, or the principal amount or such portion of the principal amount as is outstanding whichever is smaller; shall be repayable.

Explanation 1:- In determining the amount repayable by a debtor under this sub section every payment made by him shall be credited towards the principal unless he has expressly stated in writing that such payment shall be in reduction of interest.

Explanation II :- Where a debt has been renewed or included in a fresh document executed before or after the commencement of this Regulation, by the same debtor or by any other person acting on his behalf or in his interest, in favour of the same creditor or of any other person acting on his behalf or in his interest, the principal originally advanced together with such sums, if any, as have been subsequently advanced as principal shall alone be treated as the principal sum repayable under this sub section.

(2) Debts incurred on or after the 1st January, 1951, shall be scaled down in the following manner. Interest shall be calculated up to the commencement of this Regulation at five per cent per annum simple interest or at the rate applicable to the debt under the law, custom or contract or the decree or order of a Court under the law, custom or contract or the decree or order of a Court under which it arises,whichever is less. Credit shall be given for all sums paid towards interest and only such amount. If any as is found outstanding towards interest so calculated shall be payable together with the principal amount or such portion of it as is due.

Explanation:- Any part of the debt which is found to be a renewal of a prior debt by the same creditor or of any other person acting on his behalf or in his interest shall be deemed to be debt contracted on the date on which such prior debt was incurred. And if such debt had been contracted prior to the 1st January, 1951, it shall be dealt with under the provisions of sub section (1).

(3) For the purposes of this section,

(i) nothing in sub sections (1) and (2) shall be deemed to require the creditor to refund any sum which has been paid to him or to increase the liability of a debtor to pay any sum in excess of the amount which would have been payable by him if this Regulation had not been made;

(ii) Where the principal was borrowed in cash with an agreement to repay it in kind the debtor shall notwithstanding such agreement be entitled to repay the debt in cash after deducting the value of all payments made by him in kind at the rate if any, stipulated in such agreement or at the market rate prevailing at the time of each payment, whichever is higher;

(iii) Where a debt has been split up whether before or after the commencement of this Regulation among the heirs, legal representatives or assigns of debtor or a creditor and fresh documents have been executed in representatives or assigns of debtor of a creditor and fresh documents have been executed in respect of the different portions of such debt the provisions of this Regulation shall continue to apply in respect of each of such portions.

Regulation 6 Special provision in respect of mortgages with provision

(1) This section shall apply to every mortgage which was executed by a member of a Scheduled Tribe at any time before the commencement of this Regulation and by virtue of which the mortagagee is in possession of the whole or a portion of the property mortgaged to him.

(a) Where no rate of interest is stipulated; or

(b) Where a rate of interest is stipulated in respect of principal amount secured by the mortgage or any portion thereof, in addition to the usufruct from the property on in respect of any other sum payable to the mortgage by the mortgagor in his capacity as such.

Explanation:- A mortgagee shall be deemed to be in possession of the property mortgaged to him, notwithstanding that he has leased it to the mortgagor or any other person.

(2) The provisions of Section 9 A of the Madras Agriculturists Relief Act, 1938 (Madras Act IV of 1938), shall so far as may be, apply in relation to the mortgages referred to in sub section (1), as they apply in relation to the mortgages with possession governed by the said Act.

Regulation 7 Provision as at to costs, etc. in certain cases

Where a debt payable by a member of a Scheduled Tribe includes any sum decreed as costs by a court or sums lawfully expended by a mortgagee or other person in order to preserve the property mortgagee or other person in order to preserve the property mortgaged, such sum or sums shall be recoverable in addition to the sum recoverable under the provisions of Sections 5 and 6.

Regulation 8 Rate of interest payable on debts incurred after the commencement of this Regulation

(1) In any proceeding for recovery of debt, the Court shall not allow interest on any debt incurred by a member of a Scheduled Tribe after the commencement of this Regulation at a rate exceeding

(a) nine per cent per annum, simple interest, if it is a secured debt;

(b) twelve per cent, per annum, simple interest, if it is an unsecured debt.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub section (1), the Government may, by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, alter, from time to time, the rate of interest specified in Clause (a) or Clause (b) of that sub section.

Regulation 9 Rate of interest payable on old debts as scaled down

All debts which have been scaled down in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation shall carry from the date up to which they have been scaled down, interest on the principal amount, if any, due on that date at the rate previously applicable under any law, custom, contract or otherwise:

Provided that the rate of interest shall not in any case exceed five per cent per annum simple interest.

Regulation 10 Power of the Government to appoint Special Officer

As soon as may be after the commencement of this Regulation, the Government or any authority officer, empowered by them in this behalf, may by order, appoint an officer not lower in rank than a Deputy Tahsildar to be a Special Officer for the purposes of this Regulation and may specify in such order the local limits of his jurisdiction.

Regulation 11 Application for declaration of debts

Where any debt is payable by a member of a Scheduled Tribe on the date of commencement of this Regulation, the creditor, the debtor or the Special Officer on behalf of the debtor may apply to the Court of the Agent, the Agency Divisional Officer, or the Agency Munsif having jurisdiction, for a declaration of the amount of the debt, as scaled down in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation, due by the debtor:-

Provided that in respect of a decree debt, such application shall be made to the Court in which a suit for the recovery for the said debt was instituted.

Regulation 12 Procedure on receipt of an application under Sec.11

(1) When an application for a debt under Section 11 is made, the Court shall, after giving the parties concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard, pass an order declaring the amount of the debt, as scaled down in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation, due by the debtor or declaring that the debt has been discharged, as the case may be, in case the Court passes an order declaring the amount of the debt due, it shall also pass an order that the said amount shall be paid in such number of instalments as it may deem proper having regard to the circumstances of the debtor and the amount declared due.

(2) If any instalment of the debt so fixed is not paid within three months from the date on which it falls due, the creditor may apply to the Court for a decree in respect of the entire amount: remaining payable to him under the order irrespective of the instalments fixed and the Courts shall, on payment by the creditor of the Court fee payable on a suit for such amount, grant a decree to the creditor for such amount:

Provided that the creditor may, on his application, be granted a decree for a lesser amount on paying the appropriate Court fee.

Provided further that the court shall not grant a decree for the attachment and sale of the movable property cattle and dwelling house, of the debtor.

(3) The Court fee, if any, paid by the creditor under sub section (2) shall be recoverable by him from the debtor in addition to the amount decree.

(4) If the debtor or the Special Officer on his behalf deposits with the Court the amount declared to be due under sub section (1) before an application for a decree is filed by the creditor under sub section (2) or the amount of the decree granted under sub section (2) together with the costs including the Court fee, the Court shall grant to the debtor a certificate that the debt has been discharged, and shall pay the amount to the creditor.

(5) The procedure laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act V of 1908) as applied to the Scheduled areas, for the trial of suits shall apply to the applications made under Section 11.

(6) No Court shall entertain or proceed with a suit or an execution proceeding by the creditor for the recovery of a debt,

(i) if an application has been made under Section 11 in respect of such debt and is pending disposal with the Court.

(ii) if the Court has made an order under sub section (1) in respect to such debt; or

(iii) if a certificate has been granted under sub section (4).

Regulation 13 Power of Special Officer to apply for loans

The Special Officer shall have power to apply and obtain loans on behalf of a member of a Scheduled Tribe from any Co operative Society or any authority duly authorised by the Government in this behalf and deposit the same with the Court for the repayment of the debts declared under Section 12 by the said Court.

Regulation 14 Court fee not to be levied on certain applications

No Court fee shall be levied on an application made under this Regulation by or on behalf of a member of a Scheduled Tribe in his capacity as a debtor.

Regulation 15 Exemption

Nothing in this Regulation shall apply to any debt payable by a member of a Scheduled Tribe who has been adjudicated an insolvent.

Regulation 16 Appeal

(1) Any person aggrieved by any original order made under this Regulation may prefer an appeal within two months from the date on which notice of such order is given,

(a) if made by the Court of the Agency Munsif to the Agency Divisional Officer having jurisdiction;

(b) if made by Agency Divisional Officer, to the Agent;

(c) if made by the Agent, to the High Court.

(2) Every order made in appeal under this section shall be final and no second appeal shall lie therefrom.

Regulation 17 Revision

(1) The Agent may, suo motu at any time or on application by an aggrieved party, call for and examine the record of any order made or proceedings recorded by an Agency Divisional Officer under this Regulation, for the purpose of satisfying himself as to the legality of such proceeding and after examining such record, may pass such order in reference thereto, as the Agent may deem fit.

(2) Every application under sub section (1) shall be preferred within two months of making of the order or the recording of the proceeding.

Regulation 18 Power to make rules

The Government may make rules by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette for carrying out the purposes of this Regulation.

Regulation 19 Repeal

The Madras Agriculturists Relief Act, 1938 (Madras Act IV of 1938), to the extent to which any of the provisions contained therein correspond, or are repugnant, to any of the provisions contained in this Regulation, shall cease to have effect in the Scheduled areas in which this Regulation is in force.