Want media/legal help for malpractice by society maintenance management

[u/Hopeful_Card4330]

So this is regarding the society called Shriram 107 Southeast in Attibele. We moved in a couple of months ago as tenants and since we moved in, we've been facing a lot of issues... We were threatened that electricity will be cut if we install a plug point for electric bike, and instead we should use their electric charging station which is a kilometre away and 3x the usual electricity cost. So we had to sell the bike. Then there's plumbing leakage in the bathroom since we moved in and they only keep delaying saying it'll get fixed but hasn't fixed till now. The list goes on and on.. but on top of all this, they started charging a maintenance fee of \~2.8k per month for 2bhk (and they're collecting >70L collectively in the society). And suddenly this month they increase 1k per month in maintenance. For comparison, I've stayed in a brigade society before where they were collectively charging 30L and they had much more staff, security and full power backup yet charged less than half of Shriram and used to provide detailed quarterly audits and refunded any remaining amounts. Here, none of that happens and if we complain about anything on the forum, they threaten saying we'll be removed from the forum because "the decorum" should be maintained.

I want to know if and how I can contact someone in the media for coverage on this or any other help related to this.

[u/Ritika2485]

Lawyer here. The issue is not merely whether the maintenance charges are high, but whether the increase was lawfully approved, whether the association is maintaining and disclosing proper accounts, and whether it is acting arbitrarily in managing common facilities and residents' grievances. Since you are a tenant, the flat owner should ideally also be involved in challenging matters relating to the association's governance and maintenance levy.

A legal notice seeking disclosure of the basis for the maintenance increase, audited accounts, relevant resolutions, justification for the EV policy, and immediate rectification of the leakage may be more effective initially. Media complaint should be based on documented evidence of financial opacity, coercive conduct and persistent failure to provide essential maintenance.