By Siddharth Prabhakar
Published: 14th April 2015 06:04 AM
CHENNAI: Adding a new set of confusions to the DBTL procedure, the South Madras Gas Agency in Mandaveli is forcing consumers with Aadhaar card to fill forms meant for those without Aadhaar cards. This, according to Indian Oil Corporation officials, is legally incorrect.
“I visited the agency on February 28 and despite having an Aadhaar card, the agency asked me to fill Form 4. I was not aware of the procedure and submitted the registration. The procedure is not yet over,” said 48 year old T Selvaraj.
Another consumer Joseph Gnana Satish, who faced a similar ordeal, said he had pointed out the Aadhaar issue to the agency executives. “I was told point-blank that Aadhaar was no longer accepted,” he said.
Satish’s DBTL registration is not yet over and the agency has refused to supply gas to his home until the registration was done. “Few days ago, I had to go to the agency to collect the cylinder in person,” he recounted.
Senior IOC officials told Express that the procedure followed by the agency was wrong. “The consumer is signing on the undertaking that he doesn’t have Aadhaar card despite having one,” an official said.
Express visited this outlet posing as a consumer with Aadhaar card wishing to register for the DBTL procedure. The agency executive at the counter, identified as Seetharaman, gave Form 4 meant for Non-Aadhaar consumers). When pointed out specifically that Aadhaar card was there, the executive said that IOC had instructed them to do so. “We have not given any such instructions to any agencies. Both Aadhaar and non-Aadhaar based forms should be accepted,” said an Indane official.
FORMS tussle
■ Form 1 and 2 for consumers with Aadhaar
■ Form 3 or 4 for consumers without Aadhaar
■ Single consolidated form available which can be filled by both
■ Signed undertaking on Form 4: I further confirm that I do not have Aadhaar number as on date. As soon as I receive Aadhaar number I will link the same to my LPG consumer number