JAMMU : Right under the nose of Mayor office at Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) complex, the unauthorised vendors are charging hefty amount from people for submission of online application for issuance of birth/ death certificate etc.
Even, the much touted slogan “Imaandar Jammu, Shaandar Jammu” which Councilor Rajinder Sharma coined on assuming the chair of Mayor Jammu miserably failed to have any impact on this operation loot which is flourishing inside JMC complex with impunity.
To maximize business of loot, even a tout is being hired by these vendors for luring gullible people who walk in Birth /Death certificate section for enquiry. The author of this news item himself spent 30 minutes inside the visitors shed and noticed these vendors are charging Rs 350 for typing application on Rs 10 stamp paper whereas Rs 550 for online submission of Birth/Death certificate application. Even, there is no display of rate list which reflects the sordid state of affairs prevailing inside the JMC complex. “This is a serious question mark on corruption free ecosystem in the premises of JMC claiming with much fan fare by incumbent Mayor.”, said an employee.
Insiders in JMC says “None of these private vendors have permission to operate from inside JMC complex”. Patronized by political parties, these vendors openly encroach upon visitors shed and start their unauthorized shops, added insiders in JMC.
For issuance of Birth/Death certificate, the JMC has kept Rs 40 as one time fees. Whereas, the DC Jammu has fixed Rs 50 as rate for various online services offered by cyber cafe owners, common service centres, petition writers as wells as stamp vendors. For printing of Rs 20 affidavit, the rate is Rs. 30 besides Rs 30 for its attestation by notary. Even the DC has made it mandatory for compulsory display of rates for customers.
However, in sheer violation of DC Jammu order, the unauthorized vendors in JMC complex are openly charging hefty amounts ranging for Rs 350 to Rs 550 merely for online services as well as issuance of Rs 20 affidavit, said Deepu Saini from whom vendor charged Rs 550 merely for submission of online application and issuance of acknowledgement for correction in existing birth record. Several people narrated the same sordid tale of loot by vendors in JMC complex.
From Mayor to Commissioner, everyone is aware of the modus operandi of these vendors who many times also malign the image of officials posted in the Birth/Death section of JMC but till date no action under law has been initiated against these intruders, avers an officer, wishing anonymity.
The Mayor Jammu, Rajinder Sharma claims to be Messiah for eradicating the gigantic corruption under his dispensation. But, the fact is that ever since he has taken over, the tentacles of corruption have assumed an alarming proportion, says renowned anti corruption crusader Prof SK Bhalla. The Mayor needs to open his eyes and ears to see what the hell is going on under his “dynamic’ leadership, added Prof Bhalla.
We apprised the mayor Jammu about the matter on his WhatsApp number as he refused to attend to our repeated calls. But, to our utter surprise nothing has been done to rein in these service providers.