Headed for Saral Kendra in Hisar? Pay Rs 200 token fee

The Rs 200 service charge being levied as 'token fee' on visitors at the Saral Kendra in the mini secretariat here has kicked up a controversy after some persons complained to the government, saying it was ‘unjustified’ as it was not being charged at any other kendra in the state.

District Information Technology Society introduced charge on Sep 29

The district administration had decided to introduce the service charge of Rs 200 per file— related to transport—with effect from September 30 in the district. The Deputy Commissioner, as co-president of the District Information Technology Society (DITS), introduced the charge vide a letter on September 29.

Besides introducing the token fee, DITS also increased the charges for deed registration (Rs 1,500) and renewal of arms licence (Rs 5,000). Earlier, the fee for both services was Rs 200.

The introduction of fresh charges has upset the public. A complainant, Sushil Kumar, wrote to Transport Minister Anil Vij, saying that no ‘token fee’ was being charged at any other Saral Kendra office in Haryana. “This is wrong and an extra burden on common people," he said.

About 200 tokens are issued every working day at the Saral Kendra office in Hisar subdivision. The same charges are also being levied at other subdivisional offices in the district.

SDM Jyoti Mittal said the DC office had issued the direction. While the DC, Anish Yadav, did not respond to calls, Haryana Transport Commissioner Atul Kumar said there was no such instruction from the head office. He, however, said since it was a decision of DITS, the matter pertained to the DC.