Karnataka govt sends microfin ordinance back to Guv with explanations
Bengaluru, Feb 10 (PTI): The Karnataka government on Monday said it has re-sent the ordinance aimed at protecting borrowers from harassment by microfinance institutions (MFIs) to the Governor once again for his assent, along with the explanations he had sought.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had recently returned the ordinance to the government, citing regulatory excesses.
The Karnataka Micro Finance (Prevention of Coercive Actions) Ordinance 2025 includes penal provisions such as a jail term of up to ten years and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh for violations.
The government decided to promulgate the ordinance in response to a spate of suicides and multiple complaints from various parts of the state against predatory loan recovery methods adopted by microfinance firms.
"The ordinance on microfinance has been sent back to the Governor along with all the explanations sought by him," the Chief Minister's Office said.
The Governor, while returning the ordinance to the government, had noted the state government was proposing to discharge all pending loans, including interest, once the ordinance comes into effect, and that no civil court shall entertain any proceedings against borrowers.
"But if all pending loans with interest are discharged, lawful and genuine lenders may face difficulties. Furthermore, they will have no legal remedy to recover their dues," the Governor stated.
He emphasised that, as a principle of natural justice, every person has the right to seek legal remedies for their grievances.
"Preventing individuals from fighting for their rights may lead to a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 19 and 32 of the Constitution of India," Gehlot added.
He also said this goes against the principles of lending followed by government banks.
Further, he noted that the proposed ordinance could negatively impact the state's business prospects by affecting self-help groups, which play a crucial role in uplifting the most vulnerable sections of society.
The ordinance aims to regulate only unregistered and unlicensed lending agencies, he said. However, he emphasized that some of these lenders, who are genuine individuals with a conscience, often serve as a lifeline for those overlooked by the traditional credit system.
"When managed responsibly, they expand access to credit and contribute to the robust growth of the financial sector," Gehlot said.
The Governor said that the punishment provisions—10 years of imprisonment and a Rs 5 lakh fine—are disproportionate compared to those in existing laws for similar offences.
He further noted that, given that the maximum loan amount that can be sanctioned is Rs 3 lakh, imposing a Rs 5 lakh fine goes against natural justice.
The Governor pointed out that to curb forceful and unlawful activities by unscrupulous lending agencies, the state government, through its police and relevant departments, already has legal provisions under the Karnataka Money Lenders Act, 1961, the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, the Karnataka Debt Relief Act, 1976, the Indian Penal Code, and the Karnataka Police Act to address such violations.
Gehlot said that effective enforcement of existing laws by the authorities would be a more efficient way to regulate the issue.
He also advised that, since the Budget Session is set to commence next month, instead of rushing through an ordinance, the state government should deliberate on the issue in detail and introduce a well-structured law in the interest of the affected people and to protect their rights.
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Screenwriter Salim Khan on ventilator support and stable, say doctors
Mumbai (PTI): Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan suffered a brain haemorrhage which has been tackled, is on ventilator support as a safeguard and stable, doctors treating him said on Wednesday, a day after he was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital here.
The 90-year-old, one half of the celebrated Salim-Javed duo which scripted films such as "Sholay", "Deewar" and "Don" with Javed Akhtar, is in the ICU and recovery might take some time given his age.
"His blood pressure was high for which we treated him and we had to put him on a ventilator because we wanted to do certain investigations. Now the ventilator was put as a safeguard so that his situation doesn't get worse. So it is not that he is critical," Dr Jalil Parkar told reporters.
"We did the investigations that were required and today we have done a small procedure on him, I will not go into the details. The procedure done is called DSA (digital subtraction angiography). The procedure has been accomplished, he is fine and stable and shifted back to ICU. By tomorrow, we hope to get him off the ventilator. All in all, he is doing quite well," he added.
Asked whether he suffered a brain haemorrhage, the doctor said, "Unko thoda haemorrhage hua tha, which we’ve tackled. No surgery is required.
As concern over Khan's health mounted, his children, including superstar Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan, daughter Alvira, and sons-in-law Atul Agnihotri and Aayush Sharma, have been seen outside the hospital along with other well-wishers. His long-time partner Akhtar was also seen coming out of the hospital.
Khan, a household name in the 70s and 80s, turned 90 on November 24 last year. It was the day Dharmendra, the star of many of his films, including "Sholay", "Seeta aur Geeta" and "Yaadon Ki Baraat", passed away.
Hailing from an affluent family in Indore, Khan arrived in Mumbai in his 20s with dreams of stardom. He was good looking and confident he would make a mark in the industry as an actor. But that did not happen. And then, after struggling for close to a decade and getting confined to small roles in films, he changed lanes.
He worked as an assistant to Abrar Alvi and soon met Akhtar to form one of Hindi cinema's most formidable writing partnerships. They worked together on two dozen movies with most of them achieving blockbuster status.
Other than "Sholay", "Deewar" and "Don", Khan and Akhtar also penned "Trishul", "Zanjeer", "Seeta Aur Geeta", "Haathi Mere Saathi", "Yaadon Ki Baarat" and "Mr India".
