Flouting rules - buying without bills and shop selling spray paint to teenager

Flouting rules and accepted cannons of law comes naturally to many of us. ‘chalta hai’ attitude and ‘adjusting’ are after all too common. How many of us buy goods with bill i.e., pay the taxes that are due ! – most of the Gold bought in the country is bought without bills, even when the applicable VAT is only 1 % ~ some would spend higher % when the seller charges so for a credit card payment !

Medicines are commonly bought over the counter.  Not all are OTC drugs, some are Prescription drugs ~ licensed medicine that is regulated by legislation to require a medical prescription before it can be obtained.  They are also known as ‘Schedule H’  a class of prescription drugs in India appearing as an appendix to the Drugs and Cosmetics rules introduced in 1945. It is revised from time based on the advice of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, part of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The most recent schedule H (2006) lists 536 drugs from abacavir to zuclopenthixol.  However, you might easily get them from the mushroom sprung druggist on the road, …………… easier if they are known to you. 

About a month ago, Petrol pump owners across the country were protesting against inadequate  payment of commissions  and  threatened to work in shifts. Petrol stations owners in New Delhi stated  that they will work in shift from 9 am to 5 pm ~ in order to save on manpower costs.  There were catcalls from other Centres too that they will work in ‘single shifts’.

Most travellers become so panicky ~ they plan everything but not filling up their tanks.  You book a vehicle of a reputed travels, many a times, after your family is in, the driver would take a detour to reach a petrol bunk patronized (or being patronized) by the operator and fill the vehicle with fuel – you might wonder, why this could not have been done on the way to your pick-up place, if not earlier !!  Those on a long drive, would search for a petrol pump having started their journey !!!

Whether in a hurry or not, petrol/diesel is one of the commodities bought without even knowing the rate or any other factor.  The pump attendant shoves the nozzle in your car; you see the metre reading go up, something happens and the nozzle is taken out. You pay and you drive away. It all works on trust ~ the common notion is that you are eventually dispensed lesser quantity than what you are paying for ! Also, the petrol price is never rounded ~ why cannot the Govt. keep the price of petrol/diesel per litre in a round figure, so that whatever you end up paying goes direct to the Govt.

Petrol is not be sold in loose and only can be filled in vehicles ~ but it is common sight to see people buying a pet bottle or a bigger can load of petrol from local petrol filling stations.  

Such violations are endless, you see them everywhere – on road, people violating traffic, not caring for the signals, not caring for the other road user; pedestrians talking their walk and more… there is no footpath and whatever once was remains occupied by shops, pedlars and others…..

Today, there is a news that in New Zealand, two Christchurch retailers will be charged after they allegedly sold cans of spray paint to a teenager.  The report in NZ  16-year-old volunteer, in a joint police and council operation last week, visiting 15 retailers across the city and tried to buy cans of spray paint.

"Unfortunately two stores did sell spray cans to the volunteer.  Those making the sales will be charged and put before the court," Senior Sergeant Glenn Nalder said. The stores, one in New Brighton and one in Sydenham, would be charged with selling spray cans to under 18s and liable for a fine of up to $1500.  In New Zealand, paint  spray cans may be sold only to people 18 or over.

Lot remains unsaid and you know what they are……

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

17th Dec 2012.