A flat owner, but only in name

A flat owner, but only in name
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, JULY 10: Haresh Shah purchased a flat in 1990, but he has still not got it transferred in his name. Not because of any procedural delays or government inaction, he says, but because he could not afford to pay Rs 2 lakh as bribe to the secretary of the co-operative housing society. Even the police and civic authorities were of no help to him, he alleges, as they are hand-in-glove with the society members.

A criminal suit has been filed in the Metropolitan Court by Shah, citing H Karkal, executive secretary, N D Randive, executive committee member and D B Shah, executive treasurer of the society as accused parties.

Shah's complaint says he purchased a flat in Sugandh Apartments, Ghatkopar (West) in November 1990. ``But since then I could not get it transferred to my name, as the executive secretary of the co-operative housing society has been demanding Rs 2 lakh as penalty. The reason shown was I bought the flat at cheap rates. Though I have been staying in this flat for the last 10 years, they did not make me a member of the housing society. This is causing severe hardships to me. Since the flat titles are not transferred in my name, I cannot think of reselling the flat and escaping from this net.''

Shah further states: ``I have complained to the deputy registrar's office several times, but no action has been taken. Since I realised these official complaints to the civic authorities would not work, I have initiated legal proceedings against the three members of the society.''

It was in December 1996 that Shah had applied for membership before the deputy registrar, N Ward, at Konkan Bhavan office. Following this, he was awarded membership in March 1997. But these attempts by Shah have always been challenged by the executive secretary by approaching higher authorities.

Interestingly, the other society members are also not bonafide members as none of them have registered flats in the said apartment.

Shah says: ``After all these issues, I have filed official complaints to the divisional joint registrar with a copy marked to the commissioner of registrar, Pune, and to the Minister for Housing, Government of Maharashtra on April 17, 2000.''

It has also been pointed out that in another case, the Bombay High Court had dissolved the housing committee, but the bearers have opened a new account in another bank without permission from the deputy registrar. ``I have pointed out this discrepancy also to the concerned authorities, but no action has been taken yet,'' Shah said.