Paying Guests vs local residents dispute in Shivranjani Society of Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: The residents of Shivranjani Society in the Satellite area of the city protested against what they call “the nuisance of menacing paying guests” in the society. The residents and the paying guests entered into arguments and verbal fights on Sunday. The PG girls captured it in video and selectively made it viral to keep the residents on the dock.

Both factions approached police and submitted applications in the Satellite police station blaming each other. No formal complaint has been filed in this regard. According to Police Inspector Vyas, the issue is even before the court. The local residents for the last some time are resisting the Paying Guest (PG) conversion of some bungalows in the society.

They blame several issues of concerns including those related to parking, smoking near the temple, dirty deeds in the car, late night outing, late night parties on the terrace with loud music, liquor, drugs, entry and exit in the society at odd hours resulting into theft etc in reference to those saying as paying guests in over 25 bungalows out of over 125 bungalows of the society.

A local resident lady of the society told media persons – ‘for the last 10-12 years, there’s a very big nuisance of PG in society. We had passed a resolution that the activities of PG that create nuuisance will be shut with effect from 30th September in society. In order to prevent troubles to them in future, we told a girl that such and such a decision has been taken and you should find an alternate. The other girl rushed there and issued a threat saying – you don’t know what my background is and what I am capable to do – then the other woman got angry and she pushed a vehicle. We are being harassed by these girls. They behave in an uncontrolled manner. Boys come here with girls and hug each other sitting there, we are not able to say even in public what they do.’

Another lady said, ‘while in a regular bungalow, a family or two reside, the PG houses accommodate many more persons. And therefore more vehicles of theirs and their guests. The society therefore has made a rule that vehicles of PG will be parked outside the society and not inside. There was theft on four occasions in the society after PG’s nuisance. The society members can’t differentiate between thieves and the PG people or their guests. Therefore entry timings are restricted. PG people celebrate birthday parties with loud music, smoking, drugs, hookah and liquor post midnight in open on the terrace. When we ask them to celebrate the party inside, they don’t listen to us and enter into arguments. We need to shut our windows and keep our children inside. We have many senior citizens residing in society.’

The residents said they have never commented on short dresses of the girls and that is not the issue at all, contrary to reporting in the section of media. The residents also said that those who have rented their houses to PG agents are staying abroad and they are indifferent to whatever nuisance they have created.

One of the Hindi speaking PG girls Gitika Mishra said – ‘None can stop Zomato and all but the society members have stopped them for us. Rules should be equal for all. They have made a rule that one cannot move outside after 11.30 pm. We can’t go anywhere.’ She further questioned the safety in Gujarat if girls are not allowed to move outside late in the night.

The other PG girl said that the society people don’t allow their parcels and delivery items to enter inside the society in discriminatory ways.

The society has through its committee implemented a decision to allow only those vehicles to enter inside the society that have allotted stickers over them. The paying guests are not entitled to have such stickers allotted by society. Also, the entry inside the society is disallowed after 11.30 pm. Several signboards have been put up to showcase the instructions and security guards are deployed to execute the new rules.

Society’s chairman Nileshbhai Soni said the society has passed a resolution to ban the PG activity in any of the bungalows. The PG occupants were counselled in recent months and informed that after 30th September no PG activity shall be allowed. However, the PG agents misguided them and told them that the society’s decision would be taken into court and all restrictions would be stayed through court order. The PG agents then levied two months’ deposits in spite of the society’s decision. Mr. Soni further said that as per the constitution of society, any member is required to take prior permission of society to rent out the house. However, in the case of PG, society remains completely unaware of who is PG occupant, who is not, who has vacated it and who is the newcomer. It creates issues at the gate. Also as per the legal provision, one has to inform about new tenant of all identification documents to Police. But that rule is always violated by PG agents. 13 out of 15 house owners who are into PG are settled abroad. When contacted they say they have nothing to do with whatever happens in society, and they are just happy with the rent they get. DeshGujarat