SKS Microfinance challenges special act passed by AP govt to regulate micro finance institutions in SC

SKS Microfinance today challenged in the Supreme Court the special act passed by the Andhra Pradesh government to regulate micro finance institutions in the state after allegations that their high interest rates and strong-arm recovery methods led to suicides by farmers.

A bench of justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra issued notice to the state government, directing it to file reply and posted the matter for hearing in the third week of July.

Senior Advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for SKS — the country’s largest and only listed micro finance company — submitted that the state government has no power to regulate the sector.

The state government passed the Andhra Pradesh Micro Finance Institutions (Regulation of Money lending) Act, 2010, to ensure that it has oversight on the sector.

According to the petitioner, micro finance sector falls under the central list and is not a state subject on which the Andhra Pradesh government could pass any act. .

Source- PTI

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