Mismanagement in Yashwantrao Chavan Centre with Sharad Pawar as President and Supriya Sule as Managing Director

Nominal rent of Rs 1 p.a. used for commercial purpose; forty years rent unpaid
Information revealed under RTI by advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar, HVP-national President

Mumbai – Yashwantrao Chavan Centre (YCC) with Sharad Pawar as President and Supriya Sule as Chairperson, has not paid more than Rs 6 crores arrears due towards rent of forty years. YCC was given on rent with nominal rent of Rs 1 per annum for propagating the work of Yashwantrao Chavan. The place has, however, been used for commercial purposes with more than Rs 6 crores as unpaid rent. The above information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act was revealed by advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar, national president of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad (HVP). Advocate Ichalkaranjikar has issued a notice to the Maharashtra Government through advocate Aniruddha Yadav of Mumbai for recovery of the overdue rent from YCC.

It may be noted that the Government has time and again communicated to YCC for payment of dues. Advocate Aniruddha Yadav has stated in the notice that the Government should recover rent from YCC or cancel the rental agreement and take legal action against the concerned persons.

Use of additional area for commercial purpose by misleading Government

On 20.11.1985, the then Government rented out 3948.75 sq. metre land to YCC at a nominal rent of Rs 1 per annum. The total construction has been done on the area of 49,550 sq ft. Its 15% i.e. 6570 sq ft was to be used by YCC for commercial purposes by charging additional rent. YCC is, however, renting out 24% of the constructed area i.e. 11,637 sq ft for commercial purposes which is deception of the Government. YCC has thus illegally earned more money and not paid tax to the Government.

YCC has been evading payment of rent for the last 40 years. During the regime of Congress-NCP led Government and even under the present ‘Mahayuti’ Government, the unpaid dues have not been recovered from YCC. The YCC website displays its motto as ‘Serving with Trust and Excellence’ with values of service, creativity, accountability, proficiency and reliability. When is it going to pay the unpaid dues keeping true to its values is the question.

Editorial Perspectives

Action is taken by disconnecting electricity supply when an ordinary citizen doesn’t pay the bill. What action is going to be taken against those who didn’t pay rent for 40-years ?
What was the State Administration doing all these years ? The administrative officers responsible for this lapse should also be severely punished.