RJSC office

Unless anybody has visited this office (of course, nobody will visit it except under compelling circumstances), it is difficult to say what it is like. In one word, it is simply unsightly. In my commercial career spanning over two decades, my robust appraisal is this that I have never come across an office worse than this. Every time I had visited it under compulsion , I promised not to visit it again.

The way the files and records are kept in this office is totally amazing, beyond anyone's idea or imagination. These are simply kept aside like fodder in a cowshed, fully soiled with layers of dust. Surprisingly, during my innumerable visits to this highly crowded office I have never found any foreigner there. It is likely that the local officials, with full understanding of the prevailing situation, have never ventured to bring along any expatriates to this place; they would be flabbergasted, never to think of returning again within their living memory. Only the unfortunate lawyers, who have to look after their clients' interest, are obliged to visit the place, mostly to remain standing since there is no appropriate waiting room for them.

The bone-shaking old lift gives a horrible look, but the visitors have no choice except to board it hesitantly since the RJSC office is located at a high-level floor, with an unattractive office sign with letters mostly mutilated.

We are all keen about foreign investments in the country. If any overseas investor had visited this office to have their company/enterprise incorporated, he or she would prefer running away with horrible perception of the real picture, never to be interested to put in any funds in the country.

A lame horse can never win a race. Lastly, the various Returns under the provisions of the Companies act are filed daily within a stipulated period of time. Apparently, these are not regularly checked or scrutinized to identify mistakes or to take corrective actions. These are simply set-aside in piles. The records are found out literally from the debris when certain company/companies require certified copies, when the officials start inspecting, in most cases to find fault with the figures/statements submitted.

The office need to be located in a suitable area with sufficient rooms where files and records may be kept in an atmosphere of transparency and that the records and certified copies are available against payment of the prescribed fees only, and not additionally "obligatory fees" of horrendous figure under the table. Will the Ministry of Commerce kindly wake up and do something about it?