The invention of the scientific method is, I'm sure we'll all agree, the most powerful intellectual idea, the most powerful framework for thinking and investigating and understanding and challenging the world around us that there is. It rests on the premise that any idea is available to be attacked. If it withstands the attack, it lives to fight another day. If it doesn't withstand the attack, then down it goes. Law doesn't seem to work like that; it has certain ideas at the heart of it which we call sacred. That's an idea we're so familiar with, whether we subscribe to it or not, that it's kind of odd to think what it actually means, because really what it means is 'Here is an idea or a notion that you're not allowed to say anything bad about; you're just not. Why not? - because you're not!'
Over the course of our long “dispute” with
MKC, we went through a lot of arguments. We had answer to some of their
objections, and we did not have answers to some. Everything happened in a very
haphazard manner. I’ve here tried to list down some of the objections the MKC
had.
1. What if everyone starts
getting two or three or four doors out of their apartment because you have?
I don’t think
that’s why people make doors – to complete with their neighbors. It’s not a
competition to have more doors. Please stop thinking in terms of “mine is
bigger”.
As far as
legality is concerned, we might as well have multiple doors. We may not change
the outer façade of the building, but we can change the setting of the lobby.
That is as per our deed and municipal laws. I can have an apartment which is
entirely without lobby walls or gates. It will be stupid. But it will be legal.
2. Changing the door position
is changing the elevation of the building. Your deed says that you cannot
change the elevation of the building. And hence you cannot have additional
doors.
Do you know what
“elevation” means? How does a door change elevation of a flat?
…
…
My questions are in bold. So I win.
3. You might be making two
doors to give half the apartment out for rent.
So?
(Thinks) Please
try to understand we are a bunch of rich marwadi home owners. We don’t want to
live with peasants… sorry tenants in the same building.
I’m sorry…
It’s okay
…for people who have to know you
4. If you add a door, people
will start doing more changes like extending the outer wall to include common
space.
Now that would
be illegal. But why would anyone extend their apartment just because I have two
doors. That does not make sense.
…
…
We had to make sense!? I have not done that before.
5. This would reduce the
security of the building
Nope. Not the building. Just my flat. Which I’m okay
with. By the way, remind me who is threatening the security of the building?
6. SEE HOW THESE PEOPLE TALK!
I’m sorry your snowflake upbringing never gave you a
chance for a calm logical dissent before. Would you like a cup of strawberry
milk?
7. You might be making two
doors with a plan to divide the apartment.
You do see that renovation is going on in the apartment
right? Do you see any plan of division? Even if it was, who the fuck are you?
I am Groot.
8. Why do you think we have
not formed the society in the correct manner?
Let’s say there’s an earthquake and the building falls,
the committee is supposed to have the authority to build a new building or sell
the land or keep the interest of the residents secured in some way. Right now
the committee has not allocated the shares to the owners, which means the
committee cannot represent the residents in case of any untoward event. What is
your plan for that?
We pray hard! Jai
Shree Ram!
You win.
Next, we had some questions of our own to the MKC. Here’s how that
went.
1.
The maintenance charges are way
too high!
This is needed to
maintain the centralized air conditioning, AV room, kids play area, swimming
pool, gym, and the general upkeep of the building. You know that this is one of
the premium housing societies in the city.
2.
So why don’t we have regular
water supply?
So that the
committee can stay relevant.
3.
You have registered yourself as
a Company instead of a housing society. There are annual compliances that must
be made with the Registrar of Companies. I see that your last balance sheet was
filed for 2021.
Yeah so?
Do you plan on filing the financial statements for the
years after 2021?
We do
When?
Whenever we make
get the statements audited
Who will pay the delay penalties?
From the
maintenance bills you pay.
4.
You’re not having annual AGMs.
How are your directors or committee members getting reappointed?
Ever heard of
inertia?
I have. Have you?
Erm… let me get a
book.
5.
So we’re not going to listen to
you. We’re going to have two doors in our apartment. What are you going to do
about it?
We will cut off
the electricity and water to your apartment. You know we’ve already done that
once.
You do realize that this is in direct conflict with
various constitutional laws and outrightly unethical.
It’s cute that you think that you live in a land of laws and ethics. Would you like a cup of strawberry milk?
6.
What do you have against me having two
doors?
As per your deed,
you can’t change the façade of the building
You know that the façade is the EXTERIOR of the building
while the gate to my apartment opens INSIDE into the lobby. The only way that
my gate would affect the façade would be if I was opening it to pigeons,
helicopters, or airplanes.
7.
You broke apart the kids’ play
room entirely without as much as a notice or even a WhatsApp message. What’s
the problem with my gate?
We are the
committee.
Who will pay for the renovation of the play area?
You already know
the answer to that
8.
What do you expect me to do
now?
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