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Strange are the workings of the offices of the Regional Transport Officer, 24 Pargana(s) (South) and the DM of 24 Pargana(s) of Alipore. For the last five years or more, the RTO office of 24 Parganas (South) situated at Alipore Police Court compound has failed to issue any tax taken to the payee against payment of yearly road tax for vehicles. In lieu of the said tax token, which is a valuable security document, the RTO office continues to issue a simple receipt with the remark: “Tax token out of stock”. From March 1998 till March 2003, I deposited road tax for my car (registration number: WB02-1358) and every time I got a receipt instead of the original tax token which I am entitled to get from the RTO office. I personally met the RTO and the ADM on March 6, 2003, and asked when I can expect the tax token. Both were found to be evasive in their response. My letter to the DM, South 24 Parganas copied to the transport secretary, West Bengal also did not evoke any response. What can I do?
R. Sinha Roy
Metropolitan Co-op Housing Society,
Sec B-2, Central South Road,
Calcutta 700 105
No response from department
From the complaint so made it appears that even after the payment of due tax to the Regional Transport Authority, the transport officer of 24 Parganas (South) has failed and neglected to provide “tax token” on the plea that “tax token is out of stock”. However, proper receipt was granted, which would show that the tax has been duly paid. This cannot be construed as misconduct of public officer since he has not done anything wrong. In the present case, the act of the officer concerned of the RTO cannot be claimed to be a capricious act or exercise of power resulting in any harassment and agony to the complainant. Such being the position the same cannot be equated with the term of misconduct, nor can the officer concerned be stigmatised as an erring official.
Money matters
The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Ltd., Calcutta branch, was closed down all of a sudden on August 8, 2002. I was a senior manager at the bank. Since the time of its closure, I have not received any terminal benefits, such as provident fund, gratuity and pension, from the bank. I have addressed three letters to the bank authorities for the release of the due amount. Could you let me know that course of action is open to me for securing my dues?
Mrinal Kanti Saha Roy,
3/4 Bepin Ganguly Road,
Dum Dum, Calcutta 700 030
Company response: We would like to inform you that the settlement of terminal benefits (pension and gratuity) was delayed due to the inordinate time taken in signing the agreement between the complainant and the bank. His terminal benefits, i.e. the commuted amount of pension and gratuity have already been paid between April and August 2003.
The issue of PF payment rests with the trustees. We can assure the complainant that his dues will be cleared as soon as the PF trust of the erstwhile Calcutta branch is folded up.
With regard to the settlement of deposit account dues (current/ savings/ FD/ RD accounts of the complainant), we would like to state that the payment of balances in the deposit accounts had nothing to do with his employment and that he stood the same ground as any other deposit customer of the bank’s erstwhile Calcutta branch. The deposit balance was paid to the complainant in July 2003 upon receipt of instructions from him as per the normal procedure of the bank. As we have not received any letter from the complainant on the issue mentioned above for a long time, we assume that he is satisfied with the resolution of the pending issues.
H. Yanagisawa
Regional executive officer
Lack of interest
In the name of my five family members, I have subscribed to some bonds of Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation. Each folio was worth Rs 10,000 each. As per the terms, 50 per cent of the amount should have been redeemed on December 31, 2002. The duly discharged certificates were sent to their registrar M/s Kirloskar Computer Service Ltd of Bangalore vide registered cover dated January 2, 2003. In spite of the four reminders, their response is awaited. For the half year ending June 30, 2003 interest was paid only for 50 per cent of the amount whereas the other 50 per cent of the amount is still lying with them. Do we have any relief under COPRA?
Kamal Kumar Marda
Bally, Howrah 711 201
No response from the company
Berth pangs
I reserved a seat in the Murshidabad College of Engg and Technology (MCET) through WBJEE in the counselling held in 2002 and deposited Rs 5,000 but did not take admission. The reason being that the hostel and other facilities that they actually provide were very different from what was projected. Hence, I decided to take admission in some other institution through the second counselling again by depositing Rs 5,000 in the same year. I requested the MCET to refund Rs 5,000 over phones and by sending registered A/D letters, faxes and e-mails but all in vain. One year has already passed and the second counselling is about to begin. What is my remedy?
Shilpa Singhania
EC-39, Salt Lake City,
Calcutta- 700 064
College response: Shilpa Singhania, d/ Madhusudan Singhania, opted for BTech in electronics and instrumentation engineering at the time of counselling, arranged by the central selection committee (CSC). As per the requirements laid down by CSC (E&T), she deposited Rs 5,000 with the CSC and not with us. The deposited amount, considered as seat-booking money, is non-refundable. The amount, however, is adjustable with the tuition fees etc. payable by those who continue their studies. After having booked a seat for EIE she neither took admission nor gave us any intimation regarding her admission to some other institution. In the process she virtually blocked the chance of another student from getting admitted. And since we could not admit another student in her place, the college suffered a huge loss.
Regarding her complaint about the unsatisfactory hostel facilities, we can only request someone known to her to visit the Barrack Square of Berhampore where our students are lodged in cosy quarters, and see for himself.
Dr. A.. Singh
Principal, Banjetia
Berhampore, Murshidabad
