COMMUNICATION VACUUM REVENUE DEPARTMENT DOESN’T REPLY FOR 16 MONTHS. RBI KEEPS SENDING REMINDERS.

  By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

1st May 2011 issue-

                              COMMUNICATION VACUUM

REVENUE DEPARTMENT DOESN’T REPLY FOR 16 MONTHS.

RBI KEEPS SENDING REMINDERS.                                                

India is the largest Democracy and we are all proud of it. But then there are many things in our Democracy that brings shame to us as well. Is it not? Ask every Indian about the same and the list will be endless. In this issue we bring you the story of how the Government Departments care two hoots to respond to their communications and no body on either side is bothered to act seriously about it.

Assuming a large scale scam in the collection of Stamp duty and issue of pre printed denomination wise Stamp papers by the State Bank of Mysore, we were collecting the required information for the same. In the context we had written a letter to the Governor of RBI on 10^th of October, 2009. The RBI in turn forwarded a letter to The Secretary of Revenue Department, Bangalore on date 01^st January 2010, for his comments on the issue. Shockingly, the Department did not reply. Then the RBI sent a reminder letter on dated 07^th September, 2010, but the Department still didn’t reply. The third letter was sent by the RBI regarding the issue on 19^th October, 2010 and of course that too went into the dustbin. Then again, the RBI sent another letter on dated 04^th January, 2011 to the Revenue Department to comment them about a serious scandal by the SBM in Stamp duty collection. Oh dear friends, even this was ignored and as of now, even after 16 months, the RBI is yet to receive a reply from the Revenue Department on the complaint filed by us in spite of sending a written correspondence plus 3 reminders.

Ironically, a Democracy is a Government run by the people, for the people and off the people, but, everybody would admit that it is merely a definition existing in the books. Revenue department is supposed to be the most important department as the state receives its revenue through this department. Then how could that department be so careless to ignore a communication from the highest banking authority? That too, for more than a year in spite of 3 reminders? Besides, the complaint is filed with regard to the manipulation in the state revenue from a particular activity which should immediately attract attention and action. Yet, the authorities are turning a blind eye to the matter.

On the other hand, even RBI merely sent them reminders after reminders but did not take any other action. Does the Government Department function in this fashion? If a correspondence is sent to any Department, is it the Department’s wish to decide and answer it or avoid it? What action can be taken on the department for not replying to the communication and how much responsible is RBI for not initiating any actions but merely sending reminders to the department? Any comments????