Ghaziabad Residents' Groups Rally Against Deputy Registrar Office Relocation to GB Nagar
Residents' associations in Ghaziabad district have voiced strong opposition to the state government's recent decision to shift the office of the deputy registrar for firms, societies, and chits to Gautam Buddh Nagar (GB Nagar). They argue that this move will create significant inconvenience for office-bearers and registered residents' bodies, disrupting routine administrative processes.
Concerns Over Administrative Hurdles and Travel Burdens
Vineet Sharma, representing the Social Awareness Society, a prominent resident group, has urged authorities to reconsider the relocation. He emphasized that the shift would force office-bearers to travel to another district for essential tasks such as registrations, renewals, and other formalities. "This decision reflects a poor assessment of ground realities," Sharma stated, highlighting that instead of strengthening the existing Ghaziabad office with additional staff and digitization efforts, the government is opting for a disruptive move.
Infrastructure and Digitization Challenges
The Ghaziabad office currently operates with a staff of approximately 13 employees and manages work for both districts, covering around 15,500 registered societies. These include Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Apartment Owners' Associations (AOAs), NGOs, and welfare bodies. Of these, about 10,000 are based in Ghaziabad, while around 5,500 are in GB Nagar. Sharma pointed out that records remain largely undigitized, and infrastructure is still being streamlined, making the relocation even more problematic.
Residents Demand Separate Offices and Weekly Sittings
In response to the government's plan, residents have called for the appointment of separate deputy registrars for Ghaziabad and GB Nagar to better serve local needs. Dipanshu Mittal, an executive member of the Raj Nagar Extension federation, noted that Ghaziabad has nearly twice the number of registered housing societies compared to Noida. "Shifting the office despite this imbalance is impractical and will inconvenience thousands of residents," he asserted. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the lack of provision for weekly sittings in Ghaziabad after the move, further exacerbating accessibility issues.
Official Response and Future Projections
An official from the registrar department acknowledged that Ghaziabad currently has more societies due to its larger population but projected rapid growth in high-rise housing in GB Nagar. However, residents argue that this does not justify the relocation, as it overlooks the immediate needs and existing administrative load in Ghaziabad. The opposition has been formally communicated through a letter addressed to key authorities, including the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Registrar, and District Magistrate, urging a review of the decision.
As the debate continues, residents' groups remain steadfast in their demand for a more practical solution that prioritizes convenience and efficient governance for all stakeholders involved.
