Levying of interest on loan amount during RBI moratorium: Supreme Court issues notice to Centre and RBI, one week time to respond

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice on a plea concerning the levying of interest on the loan amount despite the RBI-ordering a three month moratorium on the payment of EMIs till May 31, which has now been extended till August 31, 2020.(Gajendra Sharma - RBI Petition)(RBI Moratorium Order- Gajendra Sharma).The Centre has been asked to respond on the plea in a week's time. Earlier, when the Court took the matter up for hearing through video conferencing on May 8, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the Court that he would take instructions on this issue from the RBI and the Centre..Solicitor General to obtain instructions from Centre, RBI on the issue of levying of interest on loan amount during moratorium period.On March 27, the RBI had permitted all lending institutions to allow a three-month moratorium on payment of all kinds of instalments, including those for credit cards and for all term loans outstanding between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020..A similar three-month deferment for all working capital loans to help borrowers face Coronavirus-related economic hardships was also permitted..The petitioner in the case has moved the Supreme Court in the capacity of a borrower aggrieved by the March 27 notification, in so far as it allows for charging of interest on the loan amount during the moratorium period. Senior Advocate Rajiv Dutta appeared for the petitioner today..The petitioner has submitted that at a time when the lockdown is in effect, the charging of interest on the loan despite the moratorium period is causing people "hindrance" and that it obstructs in the "right to life" guaranteed to the people under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.."This action of imposition of interest during the moratorium period is completely devastating, wrong and in a way has taken away the benefit of imposing moratorium."The petition adds. .Earlier, on April 30, the Supreme Court had asked the RBI to ensure that its loan moratorium policy permitting exemption from paying EMIs and other loans during the COVID-19 lockdown period is implemented by the banks..Supreme Court asks RBI to ensure banks implement its COVID-19 three-month moratorium policy in letter and spirit.However, the Court had left the question of law open and had noted that the parties before the Court in that instant batch of petitions were not aggrieved parties..Highlighting that he is an aggrieved party, the petitioner in the instant case submits that the notification is against the principles of natural justice. In this regard, he highlights that on the one hand all the means of livelihood stand suspended for the time being and on the other, interests are being charged for the moratorium period which would lead to an increased bill for monthly payment of EMIs.."The aforesaid notification qua payment of interest violates the principle of natural justice as the Government on one hand ceased the working of the individuals and on other hand asking to pay the loan interest during moratorium," the petitioner says in his plea..Read Petition.[READ ORDER]