Housing society expels member for RTI ‘harassment’

Times of India: Mumbai: Monday, March 31, 2014.

In a first, the Salsette Catholic society in Bandra expelled a member for harassment through the RTI Act.

At a special general body meeting on Sunday, 54 of the 73 members present voted in favour of the motion to expel Leslie Almeida. Earlier, Almeida had not replied to a showcause notice issued by the society that said it would allow him to present his side. But at the meeting, members did not give Almeida an opportunity to speak as they constantly interrupted him. The committee, however, made a 90-minute presentation on why he should be expelled.

Father Michael Goveas, parish priest at St Andrew's Church, suggested an inquiry be set up to prove allegations against Almeida. He also objected to Almeida's photo with a stone in hand, saying it proved nothing as it did not show who Almeida was taking aim at. The society's secretary, Cornel Gonsalves, said the society had been dragged into a personal dispute. "The society has been harassed with hundreds of RTI applications," he said.