18 December 12 Part 1 & 2 at Goa – More than 6,000 cases disposed off in a year by this Chief Information Commissioner, India !
Author: yazdi
Difference between NRE and NRO Accounts
NRE deposits are emerging as an attractive investment option, according a report in theBusiness Standard today. “With global interest rates continuing to remain low, non-resident Indians (NRIs) can use the non-resident (external) rupee account (NRE) as an attractive option to park their funds,” said the report quoting experts. For those who can’t tell an NRE account from an Non resident ordinary rupee account, here’s a quick guide.
As an NRI you can open two kinds of savings accounts in India— non-resident rupee accounts (NRE), and non resident ordinary rupee accounts.
Click Here for the full story
M-20 Bond FAQs
Q-01. Whether M-20 bond is compulsory for all the committee members?
Ans: MC Members of co-operative housing societies in Maharashtra are exempted from signing M 20 Bonds w.e.f. 06.09.2012.
02. What is the effective date for filing M-20 bond
Ans: Within forty five days of their election (Within 15 days in case of committees having assumed the office prior to 14.01.2011 and within 45 days in case of committees assuming the office after 14.01.2011 as per the Maharashtra co-operative societies (Amendment) Act, 2010 (MAHARASHTRA ACT NO.11 OF 2011) published in the “Maharashtra Government Gazette” Dated.14.01.201 1).
If the Managing Committee member fails to execute the bond within the specified period, then such member shall be deemed to have vacated his office as member of the Managing Committee.
03. Whether M-20 bond is to submit to registrar is compulsory.
Ans: Although Rule 58(a) says to notify the Deputy Registrar about M – 20 Bonds having signed, it is important to submit copies of M-20 Bonds to the registrar under acknowledgement.
Q – 04. When was this law is made (i.e. from which year is effective)
Ans: Signing of M – 20 Bonds for housing societies was given effect by Section 73(1AB) of the MCS Act., 1960 R/w Rule 58 (a) of MCS Rules, 1961 w.el. 23.08.2000.
05. Whether as on today this law is applicable.
Ans: No. Govt. has exempted co-operative housing societies from the provision of signing mandatory M-20 Bonds. The GR No. CSL – 2012 / P.R. 402 / 15 – S, Dated 06.09.2012 for exemption is announced using powers U/s. 157 of MCS Act, 1960 (1961 Mali 24)
Relevant all GRs available our Association office Contact 42551414
J.B.Patel (jeby)- HOUSING SOCIETIES ACTIVIST Mobile : 9820538570, Eamail : jebypatel@rediffmail.corn
Save more in provident fund, but take home less as salary
A recent circular issued by the EmployeesProvident Fund Organisation – which comes under the ministry of labour and employment – will reduce the take home pay of salaried employees. As per this circular, various allowances paid to employees will have to be added back to the basic salary and provident fund contributions computed against this higher value. This, in turn, will mean a lower take home pay.
The circular dated November 30, 2012, was issued after internal review meetings held in late November and has been forwarded to Employee Provident Fund offices across India.
Historically, most companies have been computing provident fund (PF) contributions (at 12% each by the employer and employee) against basic salary and dearness allowance only. However, the definition of basic wages has been a contentious issue, with PF authorities claiming that companies split the basic wages into various allowances to reduce the quantum of PF contributions.
Click Here for details.
Bombay Shops & Establishment Act, 1948
If you are registered under Bombay Shops & Establishment Act, 1948, it is time to renew your license before December 15 each year. Here are some valuable links :
Bombay Shops & Establishment Act, 1948 – Bare Act
Banking Codes & Standards Board of India (BCSBI)
The Banking Codes & Standards Board of India (BCSBI) is an independent and autonomous watch dog to monitor and ensure that the Banking Codes and Standards adopted by the banks are adhered to in true spirit while delivering their services.
The Banking Codes and Standards Board of India has been registered as a separate society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Therefore, it would function as an independent and autonomous body.
The Banking Codes and Standards Board of India is not a Department of the RBI. Reserve Bank has agreed to lend it financial support for a limited period. It is an independent banking industry watch dog to ensure that the consumer of banking services get what they are promised by the banks.
To ensure that the Board really functions as an autonomous and independent watchdog of the industry, the Reserve Bank also decided to extend financial support to the Board by way of meeting its full expenses for the first five years. This was to enable the Board to reach its economic critical mass that will make it truly independent in its functioning and take a view on any bank without its existence coming under any threat. On its part, RBI would derive supervisory comfort in case of banks which are members of the Board. In substance, the Board has been set up to ensure that common man as a consumer of financial services from the banking Industry is in a no way at a disadvantageous position and really gets what it has been promised.
Click Here for their website
Code of Bank’s Commitment to Customers – August 2009
Code of Bank’s Commitment to Micro & Small Enterprises – August 2012
Education, healthcare and FMCG ads are most misleading
Education, healthcare and FMCG sectors continue to mislead through ads, reveals the Consumer Complaints Council of the ASCI
Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) upheld complaints against 15 advertisers out of 22 for misleading. During September, the CCC did not uphold complaints against seven advertisements. The companies whose ads were found misleading by CCC include Hindustan Unilever, UltraTech India, Kimberly-Clark Lever, AIHM Institute of Hotel Management, JaypeeInfratech, Panasonic India, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals and Dr Wilmar Schwabe India.
During September 2012, the CCC also received complaints against three print and four TV advertisements. The complaints were received against the advertisements of Agron India Ltd’s Intimaxx, Allergan Health Care India Pvt Ltd’s Juvederm Injectable Gel Filler, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Engineering College, “Sharda University”, Heinz India Pvt Ltd’s “Complan”, “Britannia’s Milk Bikis”, “Hero MotoCorp’s Hero Maestro”. However, as these advertisements did not contravene ASCI’s codes or guidelines, the complaints were not upheld.
Click Here for the full article with details on the misleading ads which were upheld by the CCC of ASCI
CERS Makes Oriental Insurance Reimburse mediclaim worth Rs. 1.17 Lakh
Ahmedabad, 10th November, 2012: The Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Ahmedabad (Additional), has directed Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. to pay its valid health insurance policyholder Chirag Sanghavi Rs. 1.17 lakh, part of it with interest, for the expenses incurred by him on his medical treatment. The amount includes compensation of Rs. 10,000 for his mental agony and Rs. 2,000 towards the litigation cost. Consumer Education & Research Society (CERS), a co-litigant with Sanghavi, was also awarded Rs. 2,000 towards cost.
Sanghavi had been suffering from Crohn’s disease and, on 22-23 September 2005, had been treated at the local Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital. Only the previous month he had purchased a medical insurance policy from Oriental Insurance. But he did not make any claim since, as per the conditions, the company was not liable to pay any cost for treatment taken during the first six months of the policy.
On 5 August 2006 Sanghavi renewed the policy for another year. On 2-3 September 2006, he had to undergo treatment once again. This time, he was given Remicade – IV injection and was hospitalised for one day. On release, he claimed reimbursement of the total cost of Rs. 1,50,299. The insurance company settled only part of the claim, i.e. Rs. 44,826, saying the treatment did not require hospitalisation and so the entire cost was not payable.
Sanghavi made a representation to the company that in the opinion of the doctor who had treated him, hospitalisation was required as the dose of the injection might lead to certain side effects. But the company declined to agree. Sanghavi approached CERS, which filed a complaint in the consumer forum seeking reimbursement of the deducted amount along with interest, compensation for the mental agony faced by the complainant and the cost.
The insurer cited the opinion of a doctor from a third party agency (TPA) that since no side effects had been noticed when Sanghavi had been treated for the first time, hospitalisation was not required during the second time. CERS quoted the doctor who had actually treated the patient that no-reaction during the first course of treatment did not necessarily eliminate the risk involved when the procedure was repeated a second time and, therefore, hospitalisation was absolutely necessary in this particular case.
The forum observed that the opinion of the doctor treating the patient was more important than that of the doctor serving a TPA. The forum ordered the insurance company to pay Rs.1,05,473/- from 29 June 2007 @ 4% interest. It also directed the company to pay Sanghavi Rs. 10,000 for mental agony faced by him and Rs. 2,000 each to him and CERS towards the litigation cost.
For more information please contact Ms. Pritee Shah (O) 079 -27489945/46
The Climate Control Theatre
As the climate talks continue at the UN conference, COP18, in Doha, Qatar here’s a quick refresher on 20 years of climate change negotiation history:
Order affecting all consumers of Mumbai passed by MERC (Case No. 158 of 2011)
Dear friends,
A order affecting all consumers of Mumbai passed by MERC for Approval of Multi Year Tariff Business Plan of Reliance Infrastructure Limited’s Distribution Business (RInfra-D) for the second Control Period from FY 2011-12 to FY 2015-16
Full order in link below
http://www.mercindia.org.in/pdf/Order%2058%2042/Order_158_of_2011_23_11_2012.pdf
Please circulate this order for better awareness.
Courtesy : Loksatta initiative
Consumer Resources 