Senior citizen takes RTI help to pull up VUDA for illegally charging for public document

Dilip Mehta (82),who runs the Jagte Raho Trust,said this is illegal and against the government rules. He obtained the information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act and subsequently after an answer by VUDA authorities regarding the same,filed a legal notice through his lawyer.

“I filed an application under RTI asking them under which rule they are charging Rs 250 for the F Form. In reply,the VUDA officials said that the said form is a ‘price publication’ and they don’t ask anybody to come and collect it. This in itself is an offence under several rules including the Press and Publication Act 1867,Press and Registration of Book Act

1867 and also the Public Library Act,1954.”

He added:“They have broken these rules and if they do not respond to my legal notice,they can be sent behind bars for six months and a fine of Rs 2,000 can be imposed on them. If such issues are tolerated and no voice is raised,then the government will continue to extract money from the innocent people who are not aware of the nitty-gritty.”

The single-page ‘F’ form contains details of the entire land deal including the present market value of the land acquired under the Town Planning Schemes. VUDA is supposed to issue the form to those whose land has been acquired under the scheme free of cost