An excellent chat with Aamir Khan on the seeds of a water revolution in the making :
Click Here for his website and learn more – https://www.paanifoundation.in/
Author: yazdi
Forced donations sought by housing societies illegal: HC
“A cooperative housing society…is not expected to indulge in profiteering from members and, if such amount is earned, then it is taxable under the law. There is no bar on any member to pay a donation to the society, but it should be voluntary,” said Justice Bhatkar.
The judge remarked housing societies were known to charge extra from members. “Different ways are invented to earn more than legally permissible charges,” the judge said. The HC directed the society to refund Rs 4.75 lakh along with 8% interest from 2005.
In the present case, a former member had accused Alankar Sahkari Cooperative Housing Society of forcing him to make a donation. The member claimed he was facing financial distress and hence had decided to sell the bungalow plot in the housing society. The committee, he claimed, sought a donation of Rs 5 lakh for their approval.
The member paid the amount in April 2005 and, once the sale was through, filed a dispute before the cooperative court in December 2005, seeking a refund of the amount paid under duress. The cooperative courts ordered the refund, which was challenged by the society in the high court.
The society referred to a communication by the member that he was donating the amount voluntarily. The high court refused to accept this admission. “A person facing financial crises will not donate Rs 5 lakh. There is a ceiling of Rs 25,000 for transfer fees,” the judge said. “From this conduct of taking immediate steps… and challenging the transaction, it can be safely concluded the amount was not a donation.”
Shibu.Thomas@timesgroup.com
Times Of India – 030918
New visa rules Indian passport holders need to know
If you are an Indian passport holder and travel often, chances are that you have had to face visa issues once or more.
As of 2018, 59 countries offer visa on arrival or visa-free travel to Indian passport holders. But that is hardly any consolation, given that most countries in Europe and the Americas still require you to get that visa stamped on your passport.
However, in what comes as slight relief to Indian passport holders, visa rules have been relaxed a little.
ALSO SEE: Most powerful passport 2018 is an Asian country. See where India ranks
There is a new set of visa rules in place and if you hold an Indian passport, this might ease your travel a bit.
Take a look at the new rules:
1. If you’re transiting through the international zone of any airport in France, you don’t need an airport transit visa any longer.
2. If you are travelling to Oman, you can now get a month-long tourist visa on arrival in the country for an amount of 20 Omani Riyal (Rs 3,700). But this rule holds only if you reside or hold an entry visa to the US, Canada, Australia, UK, Japan or Schengen states. Your spouse and children accompanying you can also get a visa on arrival.
3. Travelling to Myanmar is now a cakewalk if you are planning to drive into the country. You need to display your e-visa at the checkpost. The e-visa can be obtained in two days.
4. UAE is now granting a 10-year long-term visa to highly-skilled professionals and investors who are willing to visit the country. These visas are granted to specialists in science, medicine and research. Visas are also being granted to “exceptional students.”
5. Israel has now cut down its visa fee for Indian passport holders from Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,100. You need to apply for a visa in the B2 visa (business, tourism or meeting or conference) category in order to avail the new price.
6. Travelling to Uzbekistan from India is also easier now. Submit your e-visa application three days before your trip. You can get a single-entry e-visa for a 30-day period.
7. UAE has announced new visa rules to promote tourism in the Emirates. Between July 15 and September 15 every year, UAE is offering visa-free travel to dependents below 18 years who are accompanying you. This means if you are travelling to Dubai or Abu Dhabi for a family holiday and have kids below 18 years, your kids travel visa-free.
8. In a bid to increase tourism in the country, Saudi Arabia is now issuing tourist visas to women aged 25 and above even if they are visiting the country without being accompanied by a man. This is the first time Saudi Arabia has relaxed visa rules on this front. The new visa rules come after Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman promised a “moderate, open Islam” in the country.
9. Japan is one of those Asian countries whose visa rules for Indian passport holders used to be at par with probably the US or European countries. But Japan has now relatively eased travel to the country for holders of Indian passport. If you are applying for a short-term stay in Japan or a multiple-entry visa, you don’t need to show an employment certificate or explanation letter stating the reason for your visit. You need your visa application form along with a valid and recent photograph and proof of your financial stability if you are travelling for tourism purposes. If your trip to Japan is business-related, you need documents to prove your affiliation to the enterprise.
10. Indian passport holders can now get visa on arrival in Zimbabwe. India is among the 28 countries that Zimbabwe has relaxed visa rules for.
YET TO BE IMPLEMENTED
If you are transiting through Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you can now obtain a free transit visa for two days. The transit visa can be extended to four days from two at an additional cost of 50 Dirham (Rs 970).
Coke declares – NOT suitable for children
Finally Coke and Pepsi declare in very very small print that these drinks are NOT suitable for children. Please share
Aadhaar is a Mass Surveillance Tool – Snowden
Aadhaar is a Mass Surveillance Tool and There Should Be Criminal Penalty for Its Misuse, says Edward Snowden
Labelling Aadhaar as mass surveillance tool created by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and supported by those in power for political benefits, globally known whistleblower Edward Snowden has warned that due to linking the UID with everything, Indians could face a civil death.
He also recommended criminal penalty, including jail, for anyone demanding Aadhaar for providing a service that is unrelated with social benefits from the government.
Speaking at the fifth edition of ‘Talk Journalism’ in Jaipur via video conferencing on 11 August 2018, Snowden, who exposed mass surveillance programs run by the US government, intelligence agencies and big corporations, warned about excessive abuse and privacy violation through demanding Aadhaar for everything by the government and private players.
“You will be tracked, monitored, and recorded in a hundred different ways and not just by UIDAI, but by the Aadhaar number they created that is being used by every other company and every other group in society,” Snowden said.
“There should be a criminal penalty on those seeking Aadhaar number for providing any service and they should be sent to jail, if required, for this crime. It has become so vulnerable that if you search a number on the internet, you will get all information of a person,” Snowden said while referring to the RS Sharma Aadhaar exposure episode.
Moments after RS Sharma, Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), shared his Aadhaar number on Twitter with a challenge to ‘harm him’ on 28 July 2018, several people revealed his personal information, like permanent account number (PAN), his date of birth, mobile numbers, and residential address. Some even claimed to have created a profile on e-shopping sites using these credentials. (Read: Aadhaar: TRAI chief RS Sharma’s challenge boomeranged as his personal info gets disclosed)
Snowden feels Aadhaar should be used only for social benefit from the government and not for any other service from the government as well as private players. “The biggest crime behind this system is that it is being used for things that are unrelated to what the Government is paying for. To open a bank account, to buy a train ticket, or for more and more services they are demanding not just the number but physical (biometric) verification of your ID card. All these players and corporates have 100 ways of monitoring and abusing your privacy through this system,” he added.
Commenting on how the UIDAI phone number landed on all Android phones in the country, Snowden raised questions on user rights and privacy in India. A few days ago, millions of Android phone users found UIDAI helpline number 1800-300-1947 in their contact list. While UIDAI tried to distance itself from the helpline number controversy, Google took the blame. It stated, in 2014, the UIDAI helpline number was ‘inadvertently coded’ in Android release given to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or mobile makers.
Snowden, however, expressed concern over this explanation from Google and overall the episode where a number was ‘pushed’ in mobile phones without the knowledge or explicit consent from the user. He said, “Google has about 95% or so market share in India, which is extraordinary. Almost everyone in India uses an Android phone. When you have that kind of position, it is very difficult to make a change that affects the mobile phone of every user in the country and yet somehow, they managed to push this phone number to everybody.”
“UIDAI should make people aware of how Aadhaar can be misused instead of transferring the blame on Google and pretending not to have any knowledge of the fact. The number of things they (UIDAI) always say is that their data is safe, their biometrics are secure. The idea is not that you can go on the internet and access anyone’s Aadhaar information directly, but that it is being leaked all over the place. There is an unrelenting train of scandals about Aadhaar, and they should respond to this in a reasonable way. They should be addressing the criticism and reforming the system instead of saying any criticism of us is illegitimate, it is scare-mongering,” he added.
The global whistleblower, who heads FreedomofPress, also talked about the importance to have free press in a democracy. He said, Rachana Khaira, the journalist from The Tribune, who was able to buy access to Aadhaar system and thus to personal details for just Rs500, deserves an award and not police complaints.
There are several people, especially youngsters, who freely share every bits and piece of information with others, without understanding their right to privacy or its implications. One of the reason could be the statements from the government to not to worry about privacy, data security and rights. “Where did that argument originate from? The answer is from Nazi Germany. But in a free society this should be the opposite. You do not need to explain why you have a right. You do not need to explain why your personal data is valuable or why you need your privacy,” Snowden said.
Using Food to achieve Good Health
The owner of the Radhakrishna restaurant and Golden Chariot restaurant opposite to Stopper Shop, S.V. Road, Andheri (West), Mumbai….Mr. Harish Shetty had diabetes, High Blood pressure and Uric acid problem. He changed his diet and got healthy without taking medicines. Inspired by his healthy eating which relieved him of his ailments, he started a restaurant called “Aharveda”
“Aharveda”
Address – Viral Apartments, Opposite Shoppers Stop, S. V. Road, Andheri West, Mumbai , Tel – 40722211/40722212 Time – 12 pm to 8 pm. No food served after 8 pm
Website – https://aharveda.com/
They also have lunch and dinner delivered at door step services Monday to Saturday.
What’s special about Aharveda?
An Aharveda diet does not use oil, ghee, dairy products or sugar, yet it isn’t about eating boiled vegetables for lunch and dinner.
In fact, you could be tucking into a mouth-watering avial or vegetable makhanwala, and gajar halwa. Surprised?
Enjoy a raita made out of peanut curd instead of dairy yoghurt, aloo parathas with gluten-free rajgira flour instead of wheat, and pulao with wari. And no more saying ‘no’ to shrikhand or payasam.
Palm jaggery, dates and figs make your desserts guilt-free.
Harish Shetty in conversation with Deepti Bhatnagar at Aharveda.
And,,, and interview with the inimitable Cyrus Broacha
ISI marked water pouches found unsafe
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Deemed Conveyance
Deemed Conveyance is a hotly discussed & debated topic these days among the Members of Co- Operative Housing Societies. The credit for these discussions & debates goes to the drive run by Government of Maharashtra for the Deemed Conveyance of the Societies. The Media is also contributing to the information flow on this subject.
The Members of Co- Operative Housing Societies are looking for information on the subject of Deemed Conveyance.
Deemed-Conveyance.in is an initiative of IamResilient Technologies Pvt. Ltd. The objective of Deemed-Conveyance.in is to offer authentic information on the subject for the benefit of Members of Societies Planning to go ahead with the Deemed Conveyance of their Property (Land & Structures).
Income Tax return required for Road Accidental Death Compensation
Accidental Death & Compensation:
(Income Tax Return Required)
If a person has an accidental death and the person was filing income tax returns for the last three years, then the government is obliged to give ten times the average annual income of the last three years to that person’s family.
Yes, you will be surprised by this, but this is right and it is Government rule. For example, if someone’s annual income is 4 lakh 5 lakhs and 6 lakhs in the first, second and third years respectively, its average income is ten times of five lakhs.. means five million rupees, family of that person is entitled to receive from the Government.
In the absence of much information, people do not take this claim with the Government.
If any return is missing, mainly last three years, this could lower the claim amount or even no claim because court takes ITR as only evidence. NO wealth record, FD’s; business etc. is given that much importance as compared to ITR in the eyes of law.
Many a time, people do not file ITRs regularly..or it will be taken lightly..
Due to lack of information the family receives no economic benefits.
Source – forwarded
Section 166 of the Motor act, 1988 (Supreme Court Judgment under Civil/ Appeal No. 9858 of 2013, arising out of SLP (c) No. 1056 of 2008) Dt. 31 Oct. licvaithi
Accidental Death & Compensation:
(Income Tax Return Required)
Area under walls can’t be included in carpet area
As per the agreement between the builder, and Shailendra Ghaste and his mother Suman as the joint purchaser, the flat, with a carpet area of 760 sq ft, was sold for Rs 25 lakh.
The state commission observed that the requirement to mention carpet area in the agreement was introduced in 2008 by an amendment to the Maharashtra Ownership of Flats Act. Since the agreement was executed earlier, the builder could not be faulted for mentioning the built-up area instead of the carpet area.
The commission posed the question: What should be accepted when there is a conflict between the typed clause of the agreement and the approved floor plan annexed to it?
Going by the plan approved by the municipal corporation, the flat had a built-up of 760 sq ft. Since this plan had been annexed to the agreement, the commission concluded the builder had not suppressed any fact, and dismissed the complaint.
Shailendra then approached the National Commission, which ordered the builder to get the carpet area re-measured. In his report, the architect included the area under the door jams and the walls.
The National commission observed that the area under the internal and external walls cannot be included in the carpet area. Similarly, the area under the door jams is already accounted for in the floor area and cannot be separately added to the floor space. It concluded that instead of 760 sq ft, the actual carpet area was only 713.39 sq ft, so the area was lesser by 46.61 sq ft. The commission held that the builder was liable for this deficiency and not the estate agent.
Accordingly, in an order delivered by Justice VK Jain on July 24, 2018, the National commission ordered Dailani Developers to refund the value of the deficient carpet area amounting to Rs 1,53,388. In addition, the builder was also directed to refund Rs 7,669 toward stamp duty on the deficit area of 46.61 sq ft. Both these amounts would also carry 9% interest from the date of the complaint till refund.
Conclusion: A builder can be held liable for manipulation in carpet area.
(The author is a consumer activist and has won the Govt.of India & the National Youth Award for Consumer Protection. His email is jehangir.gai.columnist@outlook.in )
Times of India – 30 July 2018
Consumer Resources 