Sachin, BMC and 3rd umpire

B esides the potholes and the controversial allotment of contracts worth Rs 550 crore to infamous entities for road laying, residents of this metropolis have now got one more topic to debate and discuss when it comes to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
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This hot new topic is the pending Occupation Certificate (OC) for Sachin Tendulkar's swanky new bungalow in Bandra.

The OC is yet to be issued because of certain conditions that are yet to be met. Anyone undertaking any construction must fulfil the conditions laid down in a document called the IOD, which is issued by the civic body.
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The conditions may vary according to the type of construction. In Tendulkar's case, the star cricketer has a few more conditions left to fulfil before he can seek the OC.

When Tendulkar proudly announced on Thursday that it was his mother's dream to have such a bungalow as he has built, the BMC took it as an admission on the part of the star that he had already moved into his new home and, as one is not supposed to occupy his property before getting the OC, a notice asking for payment of a fine was issued.

Only, people from the area say that Tendulkar is still living in his La Mer duplex apartment and is yet to shift into his new bungalow.
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And then came a third umpire in the picture. Even before the ink on the notice had dried, former corporator and Mumbai suburban district Guardian Minister Naseem Khan asked the civic chief to waive off the penalty.

Rules say only the Urban Development Minister enjoys the power to give directions to the civic body. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan holds charge of that department.

It is another story that even if Tendulkar were guilty, any waiver of the kind would have been unfair to the common man. In a democracy, no one is more equal.