Bribe Rates for Delhi

I PAID A BRIBE

2011-06-14T01:41:00.000-07:00

I PAID A BRIBE

Came across this site, and hope people add more information there

Corruption at HUDA

2011-06-12T23:43:00.000-07:00

We thought of doing the mandatory 25% construction on a plot we have in Gurgaon. The plot was reaching 15 yrs from possession and thus it became critical to do the construction.

Right from getting the plan passed to every small step. HUDA is neck deep in corruption. There is a single window, however that Babu will point 100 issues when you approach him. And no solutions. However, as soon as you find a tout, all those issues disappear. The tout makes money and gives the cut to the babu and all is fine after that.

The rules are not clear, and worst of all is that corruption goes uptil the top. Even if you reach the top officer, he repeats the words of the babu.

When we filed for completion, we were returned 2-3 times by the single window babu. Finally found a tout paid 500 Rs and all was well. file accepted. Now we have been told that for the for the completion to be given the minimum bribe is around 0.5 to 1% of the cost of your plot. Incase you do not pay the same, they can close your file, making you to go through the entire filing procedure again. To make matters worse, the sewer connection is also not given until the completion is given by HUDA.

God save from HUDA, and i pray some honest officer joins in and cleans the mess.

India corruption

2010-08-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

MEA questions authenticity of emails, OC launches probe - India - The Times of India

India has failed big time with the organization of the commonwealth games. I think it was acceptable that some bribes and money was made by all parties, but the extent of corruption has crossed all boundaries. Here are some details -

1. Little known UK company paid huge amounts by organizing committee.
2. Rentals paid for equipment far exceeding their cost price.
3. Australian marketing company paid huge commission when most of the biggest sponsors are government organizations.

Commonwealth games has been made into an opportunity for siphoning off tax payers money rather than doing something. Whole Delhi dug up for no apparent reason. All light poles changed, all pavements remade, for WHAT? So that MCD makes even more money? politicians become more rich??

Our country seems to be going to dogs now, probably in few more yrs we would be like a failed african country........

Corruption in Geetanjali enclave society

2010-03-13T01:04:00.000-08:00

Read about my fight against corruption and harassment by the society members at -

http://geetanjalisociety.blogspot.com/

Justice late and denied

2009-08-21T08:28:00.001-07:00

Justice in India is late and denied. It was nice to hear about it from our prime minister himself. But what came thereafter is disappointing, the CJI and PM differ in the reasons, both have pointed the problem in each others area but do not want to make the change that lies in their hands. So i don't think anything will change. This situation is not very different from our corporate. This is sadly the state when management is indecisive and does not want to put in the effort required to solve such difficult problems. Such problems need lot of perseverance and determination. There is no easy solution. But to create a plan around this is not really very hard.

Figure out the rate at which the courts are being approached, and what manpower is needed for them. This is important to ensure that there is no more pile up.

Next is to plan an additional capacity that works for cleaning out the current piled up cases. This overcapacity shall be neutralized in longer run with retirements happening and increase in the run rate for current cases.

The reason why nothing happens is simple, up to an extent both the judiciary and executive gain from dead/lame justice -

1. Judges continue to be important, as they are few in number and always laden with work. India not only prides itself with almost largest population, but worlds maximum and most busiest people will be in India.

2. Judges get paid by frustrated people trying to work through this mess.

3. Executive uses lame justice to their advantage. Do anything and by the time the decision come you are already dead. GO to lower court, then high court and then supreme court.

Passport that never comes

2009-07-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

Passport finally comes after 5 months with sending emails to ministry of external affairs and passport officer. BY sending registered letter. By sending repeated faxes. BY lodging a complaint at pgportal
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It has been more than 4 months since i Gave my passport for renewal as it had got expired. It has been around 2 months since the police gave clearance. It has been around a month since i complained to the emails available on their site. But nothing......

Being a country's citizen and getting this service for something as basic as a passport is really appalling. Are all our IAS officers and think tank in the country so ineffective that they cant get this service right??

MTNL and pathetic internet

2009-06-10T03:27:00.001-07:00

I recently switched to MTNL broadband 512 Kbps speed plan. Whenever I check the broadband speed on thier site or on other sites like http://www.speedtest.net/ i get the speed max as 450 Kbps. Additionally when i run the tracert command I see packet losses and extra delay at thier servers. Overall MTNL 512 Kbps connection gives you the experience of airtel 256 Kbps plan.

Now the helpline, personal staff and email id are all junk of mtnl. Nobody responds or knows what is happening. So conclusion is, stay away from MTNL Broadband...

Skoda and bad service

2009-06-10T03:23:00.000-07:00

Team-BHP stands for the TRUTH. But Skoda wants to “instigate” Team-BHP and its users! - Team-BHP

I never thought Skoda stands for poor quality and poorer service. Infact seeing the arrogant response, one thing i am sure is never to buy a Skoda

Getting a Digital hearing Aid

2008-09-22T02:15:00.001-07:00

My dad served in government for all his working years. A small thing he is entitled to after retirement as a medical assistance is a hearing aid. Apparently he can get the approval for the hearing aid only when doctors from 2 government hospitals recommend it. Its a shame that doctors have stooped to a level where they won't recommend it till they get their cut from the hearing aid retailer. I use to believe that docs respect other docs, but no more, I asked my friend who works in Safdarjung hospital to accompany my dad to ENT and get the recommendation. The ENT doctor says, You just go to this retailer and tell my name, he will get you everything, not to worry. I will also get you the recommendation from the 2nd government hospital.

The government hospital docs apparently want 4-5K each for giving the recommendation for the hearing aid. So next time, don't bother about anything just approach a big retailer for hearing aids, be ready to pay bribe to docs, and you shall have the hearing aid soon.

TOI steals content

2008-09-05T00:20:00.001-07:00

Times of India, leading national daily does not feel anything wrong with stealing content,,,,read more at http://blog.twilightfairy.in/2008/09/01/toi-believes-flickr-is-for-flicking/

license without knowing how to drive

2008-05-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

A friend just got a license for a car, and he does not know how to drive. License issued at Sheikh Sarai RTO, New Delhi. Just pay the chai waala there 200-300 Rs and he has setting with the Driving inspector. So when u have to give the road test, You always pass.

So no wonder Delhi has so many drivers that don't give indicators, use high beams, don't know about lane driving etc.

Missing/Stolen mobile phone

2007-10-29T04:27:00.001-07:00

Zonal Integrated Police Network (zipnet.nic.in)

I thought if your mobile phone is stolen and you have the IMEI number it is very easy to track the thief and catch him...NO NO NO...we are still living in the Past times. The police prefers to sleep in such cases,,,after all IT IS JUST A FONE...

The policeman at the local police station even refused to write an FIR. I have emailed about that to Officers emails mentioned on the Delhi police website and i hope that some action is taken against him..

However, all if you buy a second hand phone please give it check at this site. Also incase your mobile is lost/stolen have it entered into the database at this site..Shayad kabhi koi action ho....SHAYAD....

Consumer court treats consumers as dirt

2007-09-29T11:52:00.001-07:00

Delhi State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commision

Apparently i decided to go to consumer court for a cheating which had been done with me recently. Filing a complaint with the consumer court itself is such a big pain that i really wonder how do people even do it? Now i think we need middleman to do this. I dont know why i expected to have them better customer orientation when they are just another government arm, trying to justify their pathetic existence.

So first as written on the site i sent the complaint in 5 copies by post with the draft to the presidents office. The draft comes back to me after 1 month and a standard letter attached, no clear reason for returning it. Then we went to thier qutub institutional area office and they refuse to take complaint as they want file cover to file multiple copies. They also say that the complaint needs to be filed in another office as they do not have the jurisdiction. Why is it so hard for one office to forward the same to another office?

Anyways i have learnt that consumer is still in a very bad state here, and incase you get cheated, its your bad luck, trying to do anything about it just adds insult to injury..

Ministry of external affairs does not recognizes MCD certificate

2006-10-29T21:07:00.000-08:00

The story starts from Taiwan where my brother is on official assignment. He recently had a baby boy. For the kid to get residential visa for Taiwan the birth certificate needs to be attested by the Taiwan cultural embassy in New Delhi. Taiwan embassy in Delhi shall attest the Birth certificate only after the certificate is attested by the Ministry of external affairs. This was easy to understand. So we approached the Min. of external Affairs in New Delhi. The officers there say, they cant attest the certificate because They don't have the signatures of the signatory in the birth certificate in thier records. Additionally they say how can they be sure that certificate is not forged? It seems either MCD certificate are easily fakeable or there are fake ones so much in market that even the goverment itself refuses to accept the authenticity. I also wondered what use would be a fake Birth certificate?

Min. of external affairs wanted the certificate to be attested by the Sub divisional magistrate (SDM). So we landed at SDM Meharauli's office. He in turn informed that only the SDM in the central office near kashmiri gate are the only SDM that are authorized to attest.

We then reached the SDM in central office, who said SDM meharuli is to sign and this was the deadlock. Finally after few more rounds to both the SDM's office and making them talk to each other on phone it was decided finally that SDM central will attest. Now SDM central wanted the passport copies of the parents also. Once that were provided he wanted to meet both parents personally before attesting.

My shocking learning in this matter is the amount of reasons that these people can come up for not doing a work. The government offices do not accept the certificates given by other departments.

The motto of the offices is to Make the rules so complex or unclear that you are forced to find middle man or BRIBE.

In the current times these offices and the senior offices here work like babus. Sometimes i feel sorry to be a citizen of this country where its law abiding citizens are made to go through all this. Will we ever make progress?

Passport woes continued

2006-10-23T04:40:00.000-07:00

Passport department is the only department i hav seen and known in all my computer knowledge years which has 2 websites. www.passport.gov.in and www.passport.nic.in . The site gov.in provides for online appointment for the passport office application submission. DONT DO THIS. the lines for online submission are even worse.

There seems to be different rules when you have filled the form online and when you have filled it offline. Annexure H is required for children if the passport if applied through offline route, however if the apllication is filed online and then you go to submit the form you are required to submit Annexure M. Annexure M is also unique in a way that it is required on a non judicial stamp paper. Passport department is expert at troubling people and i wonder who there has some brains... Now whats the need for the non judicial stamp paper?? I think the middle man economy which thrives there, they just want it to die... The lines there are equally chilling and babu is looking for the slightest excuse to reject. For the childs passport, i give the passport for both parents and all the documents that have been asked for online, but as my passport was originally issued at Nagpur and mothers birth place is written as Non delhi in her passport they need additional proof for Address, something like Voters I card for either parent..I dont know from where this requirement came about...

They required police verification to be done for 9 month old baby when the both the parents have the same address in thier passport from where the childs passport is being applied for. This time however the only difference was that the police man did not ask me for beibe for sending a clean report for the baby...

Change in passport rules opposed- The Times of India

2006-06-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

Change in passport rules opposed- The Times of India

Sources said issuing a passport only on the basis of a driving licence or a voter identity card or the ration card is not enough to authenticate the bona fide of a person.

"These days, all these can be managed for a paltry sum of Rs 200-500," said a senior intelligence official. "

Dont they know that the police officer that comes to your home for verification comes even cheaper?

Our intelligence officals are so great,,,God save India.

tarun upadhyay’s blog » bribing in india: for every hand that takes; there is one that gives

2006-06-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

Tarun reads bribe delhi and points out that people giving bribe are equally to blame as the people taking it. I totally agree. This is also the reason that i have very few bribe stories contributed from other people. because people bribe to cover up thier wrong doings.He also points out to his discussion with JJ Irani of TATA and the fact that TATA never bribes. Can we say Indus never bribes? are we willing for the fight?I also remember a similar incident from my cousin who works for american express, he told me that Amex never bribes and therefore for about 7 months they did not get the electricity connection at thier okhla office and had to run toally on generators.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Digital Planet

2006-05-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

Bribe Delhi catches attention of BBC.

Passport for a minor

2006-05-14T17:50:00.000-07:00

I thought how tough it would be to get a passport for a 4 month old child, whose both parents have a passport at that address and have all the documents needed.

I download the form from website. The instructions as unclear as they can be and that much confusing.

The passport application is to be submitted in triplicate.
The photo pasting information is incorrect.
Annexure H as per website says is for separated parents, but passport office wants it from all parents.

Submitting a passport in itself is a big pain. The passport website and indiapost website claims that forms can be submitted through the post offices, I could find no such post office in delhi. There are always big line at the delhi office. There now appears to be some token system. And it is unclear whether they need to c the small baby to process passport...

Read complex rules on the website and let me know what shud i do to get a tatkal passport. Read at passport.nic.in/

I am in US and want my kid to get a passport, YES I M WILLING TO BRIBE. I AM GUILTY. Tell me who and where...

If one parent is outside india u need to give an affidavit endorsed by embassy of india in the country that you dont have objection to the child getting the passport. I am learning and learning the rules..

Cop chase

2006-05-06T10:16:00.000-07:00

We need to take lessons from this guy to fight for the principles we hold. We need more and more people like him. Chasing a cop for crossing red light,,i thought this only happened in indian films. AWESOME.This has nothing to be with Delhi, but this post is another example where someone has the courage and takes pains to fight the people who are abusing the system

India Customs

2006-05-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

ben3lotus comments on previous post--customs duty is not 200 to 300% except in case of liquor where it is 215% (remember 2 liter alcohol is free) and for rest of the goods its 35% on baggage, (after giving away Rs 25000 free allowance) . For gold jewelry its only Rs 250 per 10 gm, after giving additional free allowance of rs. 10000 to male and 20000 to females in respect of jewelry. I don't think this is enormous or do u think it is?
have confidence in yourself, on arrival be gutsy enough to walk to the red channel counter and file a declaration and offer to pay duty- keep ur receipts handy so that valuation is done properly.

The problem of people trying to bypass customs and customs officials harassing people arises because the people are not aware about the rules. The customs officials use that to their advantage. People are told that there is V high official duty to be paid and it is in the best interest of people to settle it with them. I also feel that is the duty comes down to around 20%, collection will increase much more. The same thing happened with income tax, where the lower rates encouraged people to declare taxes more and increased collection.

We need to put the custom rates and allowances clearly on the back of declaration form and also on some big billboards.

Custom at Indian customs

2006-04-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

Here is story from Tajinder Pal:

I recently came back from UK after 6 years and had lot of home stuff which I cargoed from UK (aroung 130 kgs).
I had the worst experience of red tapism of my life.There is delibrate harassment at every step. Everybody you speak to just misguides you, from labourer to gatekeeper and so on. Reason being they expect some money in favaour just for letting you know where to go. It took me 8 hours to get all my used household items.

1. First I was wrongly told that I did not have compelete papers. After some running around and contacting cargo agent I found out that papers were fine.
2. Managed to find the counter one. Paid some money (Rs30) so that I get proper evalution of the items and also get right directions.
3. Then came customs. They will bring your stuff from warehouse and check each and every item and calculate the customs to be paid. You are expected to pay the people who bring your stuff and open and then repack your items.
Paid Rs250
4. Customs officer then started preparing papers, deliberatley taking more time. I just lost patience ANd offered some chai-paani. Within few minutess papers were ready. Later on I offered him Rs250, he asked for more and settled for Rs400. Total duty was aroung Rs2500 which is not a big amount I was ready to pay full amount but they create such an environment that just frustates you and you just loose patience.
5. Once papers were ready I went to deposit money in SBI branch nearby.
Cleark just ignored me, left and came back after 5 minutes. Then he grabbed papers. I asked how much I had to pay. He said 'well paper says Rs2600 and gave me look which I have not forgotten till date'. I had to part with extra Rs100 their. Papers were duly signed and stamped.
6. I went back to Customs, they made some papers that were signed by some officer in some building somewhere. It took me while to find the place. No instructions anywhere and people just misguides, as I mentioned earlier.
Waited for half an hour or so, no response, then a lady came. I asked here to go in and I went in after her. He immediatly obliged to sign her papers and by mistake he signed my papers and he gave me a look which I still remember. Luckily no money paid.
7. Wen back to customs. They filed my papers and gave me some papers to get a 'gate pass' which was a must.
8. After trying 3 times, officer who makes gate pass, gave me one.
9. Then 8 or 9 more people signed on the gate pass before I got my stuff.
And then I had to pay more (Rs 200) to get finaly get my suff loaded and moved to my car.

After getting god knows how many signatures and paying Rs1400 bribe I got my stuff. Many others were sent home to come back next day but I was very pushy, even the officers were annoyed. At last moment one officer said 'throw his stuff on the floor and let him take it away'.
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From Ankur
The Attitude of SBI clerk is really worth noting. When you have all the banks competing for business, here is the good old State Bank of India clerk making his money. I hope Tajinder takes this up with officials.
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From Ankur 26 April 06

A good suggestion from ben3lotus- just note the name and complain at http://www.igiacustoms.gov.in/ .

Bribe paid to Lodge FIR

2006-04-07T02:00:00.000-07:00

Following piece originally published by Abhishek on his blog A Saucerful of Secrets
Click here for the original post

************************************
Another Bribe in the Wall

In the impermeable wall of red tapism, here comes another bribe...

After losing my wallet in Noida, I asked a nearest cop, which chowki to file the complaint. I was directed to the sector 14 police station, where I was told that I have come to the wrong place and I would have to go to the Sec 2 golchakkar chowki. There a nice and polite incharge redirected me to the Sec 20 Police Station. At the station :

Sir, I want to file a report for lost wallet.

Write it on two plain sheets and give it to me.

Sir, I dont have any paper with me.

What do you do with those specs of your if you dont read and write? Cant you carry your own paper?

Sir, I dont have 'em, please provide.

Ok go to the other room.

After standing there in the other room.

Sir, can I please have two sheets of plain paper?

NO.

Sir...

NO.

Back to the other room...

Sir, paper is not available there...

Looks up to me - So, what can I do? Talk to that other guy.

Other guy.

Sir ... Can I please have two sheets of plain paper?

No.

The very same moment, a lady sitting on the floor tells the man ... "Kyon pareshaan kar rahe ho... de do paper..." (Dont bug him, give him the paper.)

This coming from the lady, he have me one A4 sheet, folded it in two, tucked a carbon paper and said - Write on it. How will you write? Hindi aati hai? ya angregi mein likhega?

Obligated, I jotted down the details, contents of the wallet were important to mention. When I went back there was another man standing behind me... Same case, lost his Driving License, filing a report.

He was asked Rs. 120/- for the FIR (or whatever it was). On denail, the police man threw back his report, saying go get an affidavit made on your own. He said sir, please ... On realizing that he will have to pour in some money, he gave Rs. 50/-. This angered the police man. But some futile pleading made him realize he will have to shell out more. Another Rs.. 20 satiated the police man's hunger.

My turn! He looks up to me : Haan, tumhara kya karna hai (Yes, what should I do with your case?)

Sir, please accept it, I have lost my wallet, no cash available.

Then I cant help you. Come in the evening.

Sir, please...

I check into my wallet - found Rs. 50 in three tens and a twenty. I offered him the three tens.

Sir...

What do you think of us? Are we beggers?

Sir, this is all I have, and I have to go back to my office, God forbid if I need this money...

No, you come in the eve.

Silently I offered him the twenty.

Aaj kal ke ladke bhi... Bike chalate hain, julfien udate hain, ******* ko taad te hain and walled ghoma dete hain. Pareshaan kise hona padta hai? Humein...

(Lads these days drive bikes recklessly, watching the babes on the road, and all this builds up trouble for us...)

The trouble : One stamp on my copy of the report. And one lousy signature.

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Update from Ankur

For police problems send an email from the delhi police website to the commisioner. Had abhishek gone thru my previous post on fighting corruption it would have helped. And BTW there is a supreme court ruling that any police station has to file ur complaint/FIR. then they can forward it. People should not be made to run around. I surely hope Abhishek does not take this lying down. We all have to put a fight against corrupt practises.

Driving License rates

2006-04-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

After a previous post from Sanjukta about is, here is update from Ankur-

Two days back me too get my permanent driving license @ Rs490. Rs 90 as fees for photograph and Rs.400 as their commission. I tried to negotiate. They convinced me like that "bhai saab hum to bas 50 raktey hain baki to sab upar jata hain" Here is the process to get permanent license, if you are not from any driving college.

Go to the main entry of authority ( A small passage between building and parking.) You can see many agents (or say dalal), you can contact to any cameraman, shopkeeper or roadvendor. I got one (cameraman introduced him with me). I started talking with him, he said sit down don't talk like this now a days position are strict. We fix up the deal in Rs.490. Then he introduced me to his boss. He asked Rs.600, I said no I was told Rs.490 only. He agreed on that. He took my papers and hand over those to his guy to get the entry in official books, and told me to bring my car for test. I said I am afraid of giving the test as inspector don't pass the guys without any recommendations. Glad to hear his answer "wahan jao apki application ka no. Inspector ko pahuch chuka hoga ab tak. Agar gadi na bhi latey to chal jata".

finally I drove my car to inspector with the stamped papers by agents guy. I went for test, without taking test I got certificate of test passed. And after some more formalities My permanent license was in my hand.So anybody even who don't know the driving can get the license get the license at a small official fees and commission of Rs.500...Great irony of government.

Fighting corruption online

2006-03-13T03:32:00.000-08:00

Now a days with greater transparency and thanks to the internet we can do a lot about corruption online. Some good links are-

Consumer online resource and empowerment center - You can file customer complaint from the website. They send the letter to them, and personally i have found them to be very good and professional
Dept. Of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances - If you have grievance against some government office you can file a complaint here. Personally found them to be sleepy and non responsive.
Delhi government - You can find the email id of the CM of Delhi and other department heads. You can email and fax complaints. I would like to commend the Delhi police commissioner who acted very promptly on a complaint on email from my friend. This site also has many useful links and information.
Right to information is there. Under that you can file a petition in the govt offices and expose corruption.

Before bowing to bribing do fight. Both the giver and the taker are doing it wrong. Atleast try.

Contribution from Pradster

2005-11-28T02:27:00.000-08:00

This following post was originally publised in Pradster's Blog The Scratch Pad. A fit post to be published here in this community blog. Hope you enjoy reading...

More of the Legend
Sunday, November 20, 2005

I am not quite sure how I missed it; it is of course on of rohans most renowned capers. But I admit it did skip out of my mind for a short walk or something, but was dragged back as soon as the Royal Bengal Turtle reminded me…so here goes.This incident dates back to circa 2001-02 when Senor Rohan had acquired a new shining silver Honda Activa scooter. On one fine day our hero decided to go with a friend on a spin to Connaught place. He had everything in order except for the small detail of possessing a valid driving license. To make matters worse he unwittingly jumped a red light and was promptly waylaid by a Home Guard constable who perhaps decided the opportunity was right to milk this cash cow of some of its booty. Our protagonist pleaded his innocence, begged for mercy then pleaded with the “cop”. “I have only 1500 bucks with me” he claimed His assailant relented accepted the “small” amount and let him go. A gleeful Rohan later told me “I actually had 3000 bucks but I hid the remaining!”I didn’t know to laugh or to cry, the fine for jumping a red light was only a hundred bucks and the constable who stopped rohan didn’t have any power to enforce a fine rohan could have slapped him and walked away yet the hairy one had paid 1.5 grand and was happy about it .When told about of the ground reality rohan was expectedly red faced, but then he moved on till the next encounter with a fake cop that is…..

To See the original Post and better understand some of the charecters.... click here

Driving License - procedure and practice

2005-11-25T13:50:00.000-08:00

Part I - The Learner's License

What I write here in this post today is not exactly about how I had to bribe a public official. This is not about individual incident of bribery. This is an institution, well organized, good staffing, great customer support, prompt and perfect. Let me tell you about my friendly neighborhood Driving School. I was living in this locality for some 17 years and most of the neighborhood sons and daughters, uncle and unties have been learning to drive a car from this same driving school.

The advantages of learning driving from these schools are many. They have specially designed cars with double brakes and clutch. One is given to the learner of obvious reasons, and the other set of control is with the instructors. However, the best part of of the driving school learning is their package deal or the Family Combo offer. The Fees for learning ranges from Rs 1000 to 3000 for per 7 hours depending upon the Model and make of the car on which you want to be trained. For eg. If you want to be taught on a Maruti Alto with Power steering its Rs. 1100 but if you want to learn on a Zen its 1500 so on and so forth. One can either take 30 min class for 14 days or 60 min for 7 days. The hours and timings are futher flexible as per the learner's convenience.

Family Combo is a special discount if two members of the same family is learning. Me and my sister did the learning together on an Alto so we paid RSI 900 + 900. This offer is not available if we don't take the classes simultaneously. That means I can't take my class in the morning and sister in the evening because then they have to come twice to the same house for picking up the student.

Now the Package deal, that is learning and obtaining of driving license together. Since obtaining a license is a tedious job, they offer to offer you a help and charge you Rs. 12oo for doing so. Once you've paid the amount you can close your eyes and drive and be rest assured you'd soon have a valid driving license, one of the most significant document for a valid proof of identity, though you can't be assured about your car and limbs. Let me explain how the whole thing works.

Every Saturday the school arranges for 3-4 RTVs to take the students to the respective Local Transport Zonal Office. Me and Sister and all other such students who have paid them for the license were asked to reach the registered office of the driving school on Saturday 8.30 am. After reaching they made an entry in their register a square peice of paper with some number scribbled on it was given and we were asked us to take our seats in the RTVs. While jumping into the RTV at random the driver wanted to have a look at the parchi and instructed which RTV to sit in. Once all of us were seated in the RTV a guy came and gave us those pens with a tag which you hang around your neck, the pen marked with the School's name and logo.

We started at around 9 am for the Zonal office which I realised was somewhere in Janak Puri. I didn't even and still don't know the address of the zonal office. That's how relaxed you can be once you have entrusted the job to them. The Double storey building where the zonal office is situated is a very old dirty dingy one. A Lawyer's hub most of the lawyers being property lawyers. The smell of bribery, under table transaction, suspicion was lingering all around. We were asked to form a Q in front of one room with shutters down even at 11 am. The room had no sign board nothing. We stood there for almost an hour finally the familiar face from the driving school appeared. In his hand he had the set of required documents (the form signed by the applicant, age proof and residence proof) which we had already submitted with the school. Names of those who didn't sign in the proper places of the application form were being called out and instructed how to properly fill the form. Having done so, there was this main guy who stood at one of the higher steps in the staricase having all the applications in his hands, preparing for a speech while we all stood in the end corridor with eager eyes and alert ears.

"Sab log dhyan se suniye, abhi aapko Room No. *** mein jaana hai. Wahan aapko ek written test dena hoga. 20 questions hoga sab ke char answer honge, teen galat ek sahi. Aap wahan jaayenge hamara pen dikhayenge, Aapko question bilkul nahi padna hai, kisi bhi ek option pe tick maarna hai. I repeat, quetions padke time waste mat kariye aapke peeche aur bhi log honge isliye jaldi se pen dikhaiyee, 18 question pe tick maarke jaakar bus mein baith jayenge. Shaam ko hamare office se learner license collect kar lena."

A thought quickly crossed my mind. What if all my random ticks fall in all the wrong places and they declare me pass...and then if ever lets say ever by chance an inspection happens...My God these guys are taking a freaking risk here. And I was right. No public official can take that big a risk of having a blatant proof of their glorious act of bribery.

The office was just like a small class room, with some chairs arranged in a row. An officer in the uniform was in his desk facing the chairs. Some 6-7 of us were called inside the room, an answer sheet and a laminated question paper was given to us. And we were categorically told by the authorities in khaki not to put any tick at all...only sign the answer sheet and leave the rest blank. Right in front of my eyes the examiner there got furious and tored off the answersheet of one of us because she had ticked all the wrong answers .

What he was doing is take the answersheet tick the correct answers and declare the candidate as pass. The legal procedure of obtaining a driving license is here

In the evening Dad went to the driving school and collected the learner's license.

Part II - The Permenant License

For the permenant license you can contact them the driving school on any saturday after a period of one month from the date of granting learner license have passed. The travelling procedure is the same. This time we were made to stand in the open for almost an hour without any instruction. Finally we were all made to pass through a thin passage through an abondoned dhaba which opened up in a big lawn at the back of the office building. Again an Officer in Khaki wiht a register in hand came along. Only one question he asked

"agar aapka indicator kharab hai aur left turn karna hai to kaise indication denge".

My God we were innovative. We came out with all possible sign language for the purpose.

"will take the right hand out and point it towards left over the top of the car", said I.

"will just give an indication by the thumb like when asking for a lift." said another.

Not a single person could answer it. Next came the driving test. The driving test was taken only from those who volunteered for it. The car was from the school, with double control. That main guy from the school sat with us in and controled the car and all of us were declared having passed the physical test. The photographs taken and the licenses we collected in the evening.

No Wonder we don't find a single car in Delhi without a dent or a scractch.

Delhi Customs Bribe rate

2005-11-20T23:08:00.000-08:00

Delhi customs is also very high on bribes. Apparently, one can get anything into India for a price that is fractional of the tax rates. This is because of high taxation and also this gives rise to the black market..but thats a different story.

The interesting point is that the offices take bribe in dollars from people coming from US, don’t know about the people from other places... The person taking your wheelchair etc also expects the tip to be in Dollars.

Few rates are-

1. Getting 2 laptops instead of one- 40$
2. Getting extra bottle of alcohol- You are allowed only 2 bottles legally. Extra bottle may cost 5-10$.

Electricity Department Bribe rates

2005-11-07T22:58:00.000-08:00

The electricity in delhi has been privatised but still untill and unless you dont grease the palms things are tough to get done. Tried the shifting of connections and getting a new connection at my home. Both were done successfully only after the palms were greased..Doing it the official way and there were one hurdle after another. Sometimes electricity cable was short, then the cable was not of proper dia..etc etc.

1. Shifting of electricity connection- [to be done]
2. Getting a new electricity connection - [to be done]
3. Residential meter for commercial activity- 500 rs to the meter reader-rates by Gaurav . This is something that should not be done, coz incase there is some raid/complaint made against u (by jealous neighbour) then it is big trouble. I feel when u r making money from commercial activity, u shud pay more, that is how we will be able to make more electricity and reduce the electricity cut and the department losses.

MCD Bribe rates

2005-11-07T22:48:00.000-08:00

I have not much faced the officials of MCD/NDMC, but would appreciate people's help in getting me the rates--

1. Getting the house plan passed- [rates needed]
2. Unauthorised construction - [rates needed]
3. Cutting tree on road-[rates needed]
4. Throwing Garbage/Malwa on road-[rates needed]

Police bribe rates

2005-11-03T00:40:00.000-08:00

Traffic police is tough to bribe when they have a gypsy and when many officers are there, one should infact avoid bribing under such circumstances. Some of the bribing scenarios and rates are-

Some document is missing on a random checking at a checkpost- 50 to 100 Rs.
Drinking in a public place- 50 to 100 Rs.
Construction work going on-
Drunken driving and causing an accident - 1000 to 2000 Rs
Police verification for passport- 200 Rs, if this amount is not paid then they send a report back that premises found locked on repeated visits and thats the end and a long wait from there on.
Police verification for passport (with additional booklet) - Rs 600

There would be many more offences and rates for them. I will update as and when i get more details.
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UPDATE1
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Delhiscoop gives this more information on the rates.

Marriage registration Rates

2005-11-03T00:34:00.000-08:00

For marriage registration following is the list of the bribes-

1. Get affidavits made that both the people are mentally fine, above age etc etc. The affidavit is made on a Rs 10 non judicial paper by a person sitting outside near the gate of the marriage office. This affidavit needs to be notarised and made for both bride and the groom. Charges are Rs-100/-.

2. If you cant wait for one month for the marriage registration certificate then you need to produce a gazetted officer. Someone near the gate will help u get him also. Charges Rs-3000/-

3. All the documents need to be attested by gazetted officer- Rs 10 per stamp.

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The official details are here
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Update -8 dec
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Update 12 april 2006

This is what Abhishek had to pay. The marriage registration menace is much bigger than i had imagined.