- I Paid A Bribe
- 13 years ago
- 1866 views
Bribe to get my marriage certificate
- Stamps and Registration
- Marriage Certificate
- Paid INR 1,800
There was a long queue outside the registrar office @ 8.00 AM Thursday morning. The office was very busy. We heard from other people that it was just an hour's work but the clerk made us believe it is impossible to get inside the building without "ADDITIONAL PAYMENT" to the officers involved which started with the clerk, the mid level officer who acted like a broker between us and the registrar officer and then the "KING of the office"- the registrar himself!!
We paid 300/- to the clerk then another 500 to the broker, we were sent right through the entire queue leaving the rest staring at us with loath. As a final touch we spent another 1000/- to the registrar.
While taking the money, I remember the face of the guy. His eyes lit with excitement, his lips uttered these words " Why do you bring this, you didn't have to do this" and his hands swiftly covered the notes under the table drawer.
So finally the entire process was over in just 20 mins while the others in the queue were waiting with, God knows how important papers, for hours. Just as we were leaving the building, the hard working, poor registrar left for a "Coffee break" leaving the queue of agitated people behind him without an ounce of dignity or respect for the job!!
I felt miserable, not just about passing through the queue but about being one of those thousands who feed and are the reason for such bullies and rogues in our nation.
That day, I took a promise to myself that no matter what, I'm not succumbing to such situations again in my life. So far I have kept myself away from such situations. I just hope to remain the same in future too. I pray to God never to put me in such horrible situations!!