VEEKAY’S NEWSLETTER -2024

VEEKAY’S NEWSLETTER -2024 Another year has passed. Somehow, the years seem to pick up speed as one grows older. There was a time when one thought that he would never grow old. The only time one felt a wee bit older was when he became a grandfather or started using a walking stick. I have gone even further and need an attendant to move around. Most of my time is now spent in court rooms and hospitals, instead of clubs and social get-togethers. Holidays in the hills are now out of the question. I envy some of my friends who pay golf every day and round it off with the two mandatory chota pegs in the evening. But I try to attend all the get-togethers of the Dam Busters (as 26th NDA course is known) as well the 34th NDC course. The biennial reunion of the unit I raised in Hisar in 1982-85 is also de-rigeur. As usual, I will start with the legal cases that have been troubling me for the last 17 years, and then come to the medical issues, which have increased this year. All this took up most of my time, leaving very little for creative pursuits, like writing books or participating in literature festivals. Domestic issues have also taken their toll. These I will omit for the present and leave them for another day. With time such problems often solve themselves. The case filed against me by the CBI after publication of my book titled India’s External Intelligence – Secrets of the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) published in 2007 is still going on and is unlikely to end soon. The agency at whose behest the case was filed has lost interest, but the lawyers will not allow the case to end – they are like daily wagers who get paid for every hearing. Another factor is that almost ten books have been written about RAW, most of them by officers who have served in the agency, including many erstwhile Directors. Even though some of these books are more explicit than mine, it is unlikely that the agency will prosecute them. I have been singled out because I was an ‘outsider’ and not one of their own. There are several other cases that I have filed in the Consumer Commissions, Central Information Commission and RERA. I had purchased a Nissan Terrano in 2016. Soon after I purchased the car I noticed that it had a design defect and could not be used in the Hills. According to the Certificate of Registration, the car has a 1598 cc petrol engine, unladen weight of 1261 Kg and gross vehicle weight of 1755 Kg. Hence, the load carried by the car including passengers, luggage, tools, accessories etc. should not exceed 1755 – 1261 = 494 Kg. According to the Owner’s Manual, the engine output and climbing ability are reduced with altitude. It recommends that the maximum load should be reduced by 10% at an altitude of 1000 metres and an additional 10% for each 1000 metres thereafter. Since most popular hill stations such as Shimla, Mussourie, Nainital etc. are at altitude of approx. 2000 metres, this will result in a weight reduction of 20% and the gross weight will be around 80% of 1755 = 1404 Kg only. Since the unladen weight of the car is 1261 Kg, the load that can be carried including passengers, luggage and tools will be only 1404 -1261 = 143 Kg. Obviously, the car cannot be used in the hills if is fully loaded, with five passengers and luggage. This is a serious design defect in the car, which is being sold as an SUV. After a lot of visits and to the service station I filed a complaint in the District Consumer Forum in Gurgaon in 2018. The case was dismissed by a subterfuge by the clerks in Forum. I then filed an appeal in the State Consumer Commission in Panchkula. After 18 hearings the case was dismissed. I then filed a case in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Delhi. The case is still going on. In July 2024 I wrote a letter to Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi, the President of the NCDRC pointing out some anomalies s under: In the hearing held on 02/07/2024 the counsel for the respondent, Mr Vipin Singhania, appeared without a Vakalatnama. He stated that he will be “shortly filing his Vakalatnama”. He was allowed to do so within three days. The case has been adjourned to 29/11/2024. I have a few questions: • If the lawyer for OP did not have a vakalatnama, why was he allowed to appear in the case? • Does it take three days to get a vakalatnama signed by the client? • Should a case be adjourned for 5-6 months for this purpose? • Section 38 (7) of the Act provides that “Every complaint shall be disposed of as expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall be made to decide the complaint within a period of three months from the date of receipt of notice by opposite party….”. Are we not violating this provision in the Act? I have noticed similar or worse anomalies in the State Commissions in Delhi and Haryana as well as the District Forum in Gurgaon. It appears that it is the lawyers who call the shots. This particular case was filed in 2018 in Gurgaon and has still not been decided even after six years. The Consumer Protection Act was enacted to protect the interests of consumers, not the lawyers. The next hearing was held on 28 Nov 2024. As expected, my case was listed at the end and my turn did not come. This has happened with me earlier in the Case filed by me against the AZWHO in the State Commission at Delhi. For almost two years my case was not heard because it was listed at end. When I brought this to the notice of the Registrar, he advised me to mention before The President at the next hearing. I did this and the President after going through the cause list assured me that he will decide the case in the next hearing which he did. Two other cases were filed in the Haryana State Consumer Commission by my daughter and son-in-law against a builder who has not delivered the flat in spite of the entire cost being paid. Seeing that there is no progress in the cases, we withdrew the cases in January and filed fresh cases in RERA in Gurgaon asking for a full refund. It is still going on with no end in sight. The spine surgery done in 2021 is still troubling me. I have to wear a brace and have to take baby steps while walking. Climbing stairs is difficult except with support. Even if there are 2 or 3 steps, I avoid climbing them unless there is a banister or railing. A problem often overlooked by us is the difficulty faced by the elderly while getting up from a low toilet seat. It can be solved by putting a handle on the wall next to the seat, which can be used as a support. I have advised many clubs and messes where I noticed this problem. One of the few who reacted promptly was DG Signals. I noticed this problem during a function in Vatika last year. Next day, I send a Whatsaap message to the ADGSS, Maj Gen Sunit Kumar along with a photograph of the handle. Within four days, the problem was solved and the handle installed. I wish other messes and clubs take similar steps to ease the life of elderly veterans. Another health issue I am facing now is an enlarged prostate. Tests have revealed that it is benign but my visits to the bathroom just don’t seem to stop. I have consulted the senior urologist in RR hospital as well as Colonel SV Kotwal in Artemis hospital. Both have advised surgery. My TURP is planned for 30 Dec. I hope all goes well. We are staying at Abhimaur Vikum in G-31, Palam Vihar in Gurgaon since 2004. We live on the ground floor while our son Abhimanyu lives on the first floor with his wife Jasmine and their son Bhuvanyu (22) and daughter Khushi (2). Bhuvanyu finished his studies from the College of Vocational Studies in Delhi University and is now working with a private company. Our daughter Mauravi and her husband Vaibhav are still living in Trinity Apartments in DLF 5, with their two daughters, Mriggya (22) and Eshaana (20). Vaibhav, a Captain in the Merchant Navy, is presently at home. Mriggya has graduated from the College of Jesus and Mary. Eshaana has got admission in college in Gurgaon This is my 18th newsletter. Those who wish to read the previous newsletters can do so by logging on to my blog veekaysnewsletter.blogspot.com. My second blog that contains chapters from my books and articles on military history is veekay-militaryhistory.blogspot.com. The third blog that has most of my articles is veekaysarticles.blogspot.com/. Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year. Vinay and Kumud Singh Tele: 0124-4074077 Mob: 9873494521, 9899110913 29th December 2024

VEEKAY’S NEWSLETTER -2024

VEEKAY’S NEWSLETTER -2024 Another year has passed. Somehow, the years seem to pick up speed as one grows older. There was a time when one thought that he would never grow old. The only time one felt a wee bit older was when he became a grandfather or started using a walking stick. I have gone even further and need an attendant to move around. Most of my time is now spent in court rooms and hospitals, instead of clubs and social get-togethers. Holidays in the hills are now out of the question. I envy some of my friends who pay golf every day and round it off with the two mandatory chota pegs in the evening. But I try to attend all the get-togethers of the Dam Busters (as 26th NDA course is known) as well the 34th NDC course. The biennial reunion of the unit I raised in Hisar in 1982-85 is also de-rigeur. As usual, I will start with the legal cases that have been troubling me for the last 17 years, and then come to the medical issues, which have increased this year. All this took up most of my time, leaving very little for creative pursuits, like writing books or participating in literature festivals. Domestic issues have also taken their toll. These I will omit for the present and leave them for another day. With time such problems often solve themselves. The case filed against me by the CBI after publication of my book titled India’s External Intelligence – Secrets of the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) published in 2007 is still going on and is unlikely to end soon. The agency at whose behest the case was filed has lost interest, but the lawyers will not allow the case to end – they are like daily wagers who get paid for every hearing. Another factor is that almost ten books have been written about RAW, most of them by officers who have served in the agency, including many erstwhile Directors. Even though some of these books are more explicit than mine, it is unlikely that the agency will prosecute them. I have been singled out because I was an ‘outsider’ and not one of their own. There are several other cases that I have filed in the Consumer Commissions, Central Information Commission and RERA. I had purchased a Nissan Terrano in 2016. Soon after I purchased the car I noticed that it had a design defect and could not be used in the Hills. According to the Certificate of Registration, the car has a 1598 cc petrol engine, unladen weight of 1261 Kg and gross vehicle weight of 1755 Kg. Hence, the load carried by the car including passengers, luggage, tools, accessories etc. should not exceed 1755 – 1261 = 494 Kg. According to the Owner’s Manual, the engine output and climbing ability are reduced with altitude. It recommends that the maximum load should be reduced by 10% at an altitude of 1000 metres and an additional 10% for each 1000 metres thereafter. Since most popular hill stations such as Shimla, Mussourie, Nainital etc. are at altitude of approx. 2000 metres, this will result in a weight reduction of 20% and the gross weight will be around 80% of 1755 = 1404 Kg only. Since the unladen weight of the car is 1261 Kg, the load that can be carried including passengers, luggage and tools will be only 1404 -1261 = 143 Kg. Obviously, the car cannot be used in the hills if is fully loaded, with five passengers and luggage. This is a serious design defect in the car, which is being sold as an SUV. After a lot of visits and to the service station I filed a complaint in the District Consumer Forum in Gurgaon in 2018. The case was dismissed by a subterfuge by the clerks in Forum. I then filed an appeal in the State Consumer Commission in Panchkula. After 18 hearings the case was dismissed. I then filed a case in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Delhi. The case is still going on. In July 2024 I wrote a letter to Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi, the President of the NCDRC pointing out some anomalies s under: In the hearing held on 02/07/2024 the counsel for the respondent, Mr Vipin Singhania, appeared without a Vakalatnama. He stated that he will be “shortly filing his Vakalatnama”. He was allowed to do so within three days. The case has been adjourned to 29/11/2024. I have a few questions: • If the lawyer for OP did not have a vakalatnama, why was he allowed to appear in the case? • Does it take three days to get a vakalatnama signed by the client? • Should a case be adjourned for 5-6 months for this purpose? • Section 38 (7) of the Act provides that “Every complaint shall be disposed of as expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall be made to decide the complaint within a period of three months from the date of receipt of notice by opposite party….”. Are we not violating this provision in the Act? I have noticed similar or worse anomalies in the State Commissions in Delhi and Haryana as well as the District Forum in Gurgaon. It appears that it is the lawyers who call the shots. This particular case was filed in 2018 in Gurgaon and has still not been decided even after six years. The Consumer Protection Act was enacted to protect the interests of consumers, not the lawyers. The next hearing was held on 28 Nov 2024. As expected, my case was listed at the end and my turn did not come. This has happened with me earlier in the Case filed by me against the AZWHO in the State Commission at Delhi. For almost two years my case was not heard because it was listed at end. When I brought this to the notice of the Registrar, he advised me to mention before The President at the next hearing. I did this and the President after going through the cause list assured me that he will decide the case in the next hearing which he did. Two other cases were filed in the Haryana State Consumer Commission by my daughter and son-in-law against a builder who has not delivered the flat in spite of the entire cost being paid. Seeing that there is no progress in the cases, we withdrew the cases in January and filed fresh cases in RERA in Gurgaon asking for a full refund. It is still going on with no end in sight. The spine surgery done in 2021 is still troubling me. I have to wear a brace and have to take baby steps while walking. Climbing stairs is difficult except with support. Even if there are 2 or 3 steps, I avoid climbing them unless there is a banister or railing. A problem often overlooked by us is the difficulty faced by the elderly while getting up from a low toilet seat. It can be solved by putting a handle on the wall next to the seat, which can be used as a support. I have advised many clubs and messes where I noticed this problem. One of the few who reacted promptly was DG Signals. I noticed this problem during a function in Vatika last year. Next day, I send a Whatsaap message to the ADGSS, Maj Gen Sunit Kumar along with a photograph of the handle. Within four days, the problem was solved and the handle installed. I wish other messes and clubs take similar steps to ease the life of elderly veterans. Another health issue I am facing now is an enlarged prostate. Tests have revealed that it is benign but my visits to the bathroom just don’t seem to stop. I have consulted the senior urologist in RR hospital as well as Colonel SV Kotwal in Artemis hospital. Both have advised surgery. My TURP is planned for 30 Dec. I hope all goes well. We are staying at Abhimaur Vikum in G-31, Palam Vihar in Gurgaon since 2004. We live on the ground floor while our son Abhimanyu lives on the first floor with his wife Jasmine and their son Bhuvanyu (22) and daughter Khushi (2). Bhuvanyu finished his studies from the College of Vocational Studies in Delhi University and is now working with a private company. Our daughter Mauravi and her husband Vaibhav are still living in Trinity Apartments in DLF 5, with their two daughters, Mriggya (22) and Eshaana (20). Vaibhav, a Captain in the Merchant Navy, is presently at home. Mriggya has graduated from the College of Jesus and Mary. Eshaana has got admission in college in Gurgaon This is my 18th newsletter. Those who wish to read the previous newsletters can do so by logging on to my blog veekaysnewsletter.blogspot.com. My second blog that contains chapters from my books and articles on military history is veekay-militaryhistory.blogspot.com. The third blog that has most of my articles is veekaysarticles.blogspot.com/. Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year. Vinay and Kumud Singh Tele: 0124-4074077 Mob: 9873494521, 9899110913 29th December 2024