The Madras High Court (HC) today ordered the Tamil Nadu Government to explore the possibility of slapping the Goonda's Act on moneylenders who charge exorbitant rates of interest, so as to prevent people from suffering.
The order was stated by the HC's First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, while disposing a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) upon the suggestions of senior counsel R Muthukumaraswamy, appointed amicus curie by the Court.
The bench had directed that the awareness of the existence of the Act and its beneficial provisions will be publicized by advertisements in all forms of media, adding that assistance of the Non Government Organizations (NGOs) may also be taken.
The Goonda's Act of 1982 states that a person, who either by himself or as a member of or leader of a gang habitually commits, or attempts to commit or helps the commission of offence, is punishable under Chapter 16, 17 or 22 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A 2011 ruling by the Madras HC states that even a single offense under the Act permits detention of a person as a goonda.
