A big danger to the constitutional governance is looming large in country with pervasive corruption in all crucial sectors. In order to keep citizens away from the scourge of corruption, a month back DNA initiated a campaign — ‘Grounding the corrupt’. The exhilarating response of our readers on this anti-graft campaign has only made our campaign stronger.
Citizens from all parts of the country have written to the DNA about their brush with corruption and red tape. In this short span, DNA has also got success in helping a few individuals in pursuing their case forward.
The series highlights day-to-day corruption woes of ordinary citizens. It includes corruption involved in procuring basic documents like a ration card, passport or a driving license. This might well include corruption involved in getting a birth or death certificate.
Or else be it a case of delayed or rejected income tax refund or an insurance claim denied by the public sector insurer, the series aims to highlight such cases and more with a view to take the fight against corruption to the grassroots level. To widen the scope you may also send us corruption or red tape episodes involved in the small and medium enterprise to big business.
DNA would ensure your identity is protected so long you have a genuine case backed by solid documentary evidence. Each case would be scrutinized for its veracity. In today’s episode, we highlight three cases.
Case 1: Land Dispute
City: Pune
Name: Withheld
Department Concerned: Maharashtra Government
Case Study: This story involves a Major, his wife and their only son while the couple has died, their son is pursuing a difficult battle. Being a Major in Indian Army and awarded with gallantry award, the officer was entitled to get the piece of land by state government. In 2001, the Major applied with the collector’s office, Pune for a plot for farming purpose under a special provision for defense personnel. His plea was not heard and he died in 2004. Thereafter, the application was transferred in the name of his wife who pursued the case until she died in 2011. After travelling in various state departments, the application landed with the district magistrate office which in 2010 said the land was not entitled for farming. Now, the lone son of Major is still fighting to get the land. He alleged, “A very large amount was demanded at the local level to sanction the plot,” which he refused to pay.
Case 2: Illegal Shop
City: Mumbai
Name: Withheld
Department Concerned: Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai
Case Study: This is a case of a pan bakda stall being ran illegally on terrace of a building in Buleshwar Road in Mumbai. The complainant also owns a shop running in the vicinity of the stall. The complainant alleged that an official of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai had provided him (pan bakda owner) the protection by abusing his authority and misusing the legal process. He alleged that despite petitioning at least four times to municipal commissioner of Mumbai nothing had happened. The complainant alleged that sometime in 2006, the MCGM renewed the license of pan bakda owner without the intervention of any court and any specific orders. The petitioner alleged that the bakda owner is still doing business and selling cigarettes and gutka without any license on the roof of his building.
Case 3: Illegal Tenant
City: Mumbai
Name: Withheld
Department Concerned: Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority
Case Study: This is a story a resident of Matunga in Mumbai who lost home in reconstruction drive of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). The complainant alleged that their builder created bogus tenants list and submitted it to MHADA by omitting the name of his brother who was among the legal tenants of the building. The complainant allegedly filed complaint in MHADA but did not receive a reply for years. He also filed RTI in the department but MHADA but a reply is awaited. The complainant also alleged the builder has defrauded few crore rupees to government treasury in this process.
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