Menace of Money Lending business in Nagaland

Kohima, 14th September 2019

The mushrooming of Private Money Lenders and Loan Sharks in Nagaland is a cause for serious concern as many people are caught in a ‘debt trap’ leading to loss of properties and disruption of family life including divorces that is tearing our social fabric, apart from economic ruin.

The ignorance on the part of borrowers has also contributed to this vicious cycle of debt trap being laid out by unscrupulous money lenders.

The Nagaland Money Lenders Act, 2005 Section 24 stipulates that those engaged in money lending business without a license shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with a fine which may extend to Rs. 2500/- or with both.

Moreover, as per the relevant sub section of Section 7, no money lender can charge interest at a rate exceeding more than 3 (three) percent above the prevailing average bank rates of interests on loans and rate of interest shall be per annum simple interest on the principal amount of the loan.

In the prevailing scenario, it is learnt that the rate of interest charged by some money lenders are as high as 120% per annum which is also compounded. Under Section 16(1) (b), any money lender whether licensed or not who receives interest higher than the rate prescribed under Section 7 or at the rate higher than the rate shown in the accounts shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may exceed to one year or with a fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both.

The Act also guarantees that any aggrieved person can file a money suit in respect of any offence like excess charge of interest, no proper maintenance of records, failure to keep full and detailed description of each of the articles taken in pawn by the pawn broker.

In case of criminal offence arising out of this act like threat, intimidation, assault, abduction, kidnap, forceful seizing of movable/immovable property etc., a criminal complaint can be lodged under Section 20 of the said Act before the competent court of Judicial Magistrate.

NPCC therefore demands that the state government strictly enforce the Nagaland Money Lenders Act, 2005 and rein in those Money Lenders/Loan Sharks, many of whom do not even possess the license to carry out money lending business while charging exorbitant interest rates as high as 120% per annum making a mockery of the said Act.

The borrowers many of whom are victims out of ignorance must also come forward to file criminal complaint against the unscrupulous money lenders or else their silence will only invite more misery heaped upon by money lenders.


Issued by: - Communications Department, NPCC