GHMC backs down, issue notice before fine
officials admitted that the current penalisation scheme of the GHMC\'s EV&DM wing violated natural law by slapping fines without recourse for appeal.
Hyderabad: The GHMC has decided to give another opportunity to those who deface the city. Following outrage from public representatives, the civic body has decided to issue notices prior to penalising the violators, and give them an opportunity to appeal the fines.
Officials admitted that the current penalisation scheme of the GHMC’s Enforcement, Vigilance and Disaster Management (EV&DM) wing violated natural law by slapping hefty fines on petty hawkers and vendors without recourse for appeal.
The EV&DM penalisation scheme had caused an uproar at the recent GHMC general body meeting. Cutting across party lines, elected representatives alleged that the corporation had violated the GHMC Act in penalising vendors.
After EV&DM director Viswajit Kampati came under personal attack, the council meeting passed a resolution to form a special committee to decide the penal amounts.
The committee after considering the pro and cons will not only decide on the penal amounts but also the process followed in levying the fines.
A senior GHMC official said that the civic body would recommend to the special committee to include the provision of issuing prior notice before penalisation and for appeal post-penalisation. The official said that this issue has been also discussed with the state government in the presence of the municipal administration and urban development principal secretary prior to the uproar by the corporators, MLCs and MLAs.
“Even murderers and hardcore criminals were given chance to appeal, why not violators be given a chance? The corporation would look into the appeal then decide on the penalty,” the official said. He added that the corporation would decrease the penalty to bring it in line with the GHMC Act.
This apart, the official said that the GHMC would send a proposal to the government to decentralise the EV&DM wing since public representatives were indulging in personal attacks on a single individual. He said post decentralisation the EV&DM would function under zonal commissioners.