PUDUCHERRY: Responding to a petition, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued notice to the Puducherry government to inquire and take action on exorbitant rate charged at the two-wheeler parking lot at the new bus stand in Puducherry.
Dr I Ezhilarasan, who complained to the MHA on the illegal collection of money after not getting response from the administration here, stated that he had parked his motorcycle in the Puducherry municipal parking lot of the new bus stand in February 21. He was asked to pay `10 as charge, but was given a slip with a charge of `2 and that too in a tiny font. It was overwritten by date 21/2 though there is a separate column for entering date and time. When the keeper of the stand was questioned about it and asked to collect the prescribed amount, he refused and acted in a vicious manner, stated Dr Ezhilarasan in his complaint.
He rushed to the nearest Orleanpet police station and lodged a complaint against the illegal money collection and the stand keeper’s derogatory speech. However, to his disappointment, no action was taken by the police despite there being sufficient evidence on the malpractice. The act of the police officials amounts to negligence of duty which is punishable under the relevant provisions of the law, he said.
On finding no other remedial measures, he wrote a letter to MHA seeking action. MHA responded with Union Home Secretary writing a letter to the Chief Secretary on April 29. Subsequently,the administrative reforms wing of the Chief Secretariat on May 8 directed Secretary, Local Administration Wing, to take action and communicate it to Dr Ezhilarasan and also intimate it to the wing for uploading on the website of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India.
The malpractice has been going on for several years and it was reported in the media. The place was being used for parking of stolen bikes.