Mumbai: A police complaint was filed by activist Kamlakar Shenoy against Additional Municipal Commissioner (AMC) -City- Ashwini Joshi for violating regulation 10 of Delay in Discharge of Duty Act.
The complaint was filed at Azad Maidan police station, which also mentions registering an FIR against Joshi under IPC section 166 A (Public servant knowingly disobeys law).
On the other hand, AMC Joshi told FPJ that she has asked her office to file a NC against Shenoy for obstructing public servant from discharging duty. Joshi added that when Shenoy came along with group of people outside her office on Monday, he did not ask the staff to arrange meeting with her nor sent a chit inside like other visitors do. All citizens are allowed to meet the officer, she said.
The matter heated up when activist Shenoy launched a protest outside AMC Joshi’s office in BMC headquarter on Monday afternoon. Shenoy had intimated Joshi last week that he would protest outside her office on March 10 and also video record.
The activist had visited Joshi’s office at the BMC headquarter last week claiming that he has not recieved responses to 25 of his pending complaints from three years and also that the AMC City has not given him time for a meeting despite repeated requests, even during public meeting hours.
Shenoy, who is the trustee of Petitions Group also alleged that, “There is a chronic issue of mis-governance and negligence among the top officers of BMC, namely the Municipal Commissioner, Additional Municipal Commissioner, and Joint Municipal Commissioner (Vigilance). These officers are vested with significant powers but have failed to exercise them with responsibility, accountability, and transparency. There are no internal or external checks to hold them accountable for their illegal acts and failure to discharge duty.”
The activist alleged that the AMC City has been allowing illegal construction, obstruction and encroachment on road, footpaths and traffic islands among several other civic issues.
“I have filed the police complaint under section 166 A of IPC against AMC Joshi because she has failed to abide by the GRs and Circulars and there by causing hurt, injury and annoyance to the citizens. She has violated the directions under circular of 7.1.2000 which directs every public servant to meet the citizens on every Monday and Friday between 3 to 5 pm. Thereafter, she is not following the GR of Maharashtra government of 13.1.2025 which says everyday government servants should meet people,” Shenoy said.
The bureaucrats at the BMC are defaming CM Devendra Fadnavis and defying the GR issued by the government, the activist added. Senior Police Inspector of Azad Maidan police station said, “We have received complaints from both Shenoy and AMC Joshi. We are looking into the matter and will take appropriate actions.”
