Porvorim, July 21: RTI activist Sudip Tamankar has lodged an official complaint with the Porvorim Police Station seeking registration of an FIR against officials of the Directorate of Transport, Government of Goa, alleging that they illegally refused to accept Indian currency notes and coins for payment of government fees.

In his complaint addressed to the Officer-in-Charge, Tamankar alleged that the Transport Department insisted that RTI fees be paid only through cashless or online modes, despite Indian currency being legal tender. He named Deputy Director of Transport (Administration) Deona Elsa Pereira and other officials in connection with the complaint.

According to the complaint, the department issued a letter dated July 15, 2026, directing him to pay the requisite fee under the Right to Information Act, 2005, exclusively through cashless mode. Tamankar claimed that when he attempted to pay the amount in cash at the department’s office, officials and the cashier refused to accept the payment.

The complainant has alleged that such refusal violates Section 26 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, which recognizes RBI-issued banknotes as legal tender, and Section 6 of the Coinage Act, 2011, which provides that coins issued under the authority of the Central Government are valid legal tender. He has also cited Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and alleged that restricting payment to cashless modes creates an unnecessary barrier to accessing information under the RTI Act.

Tamankar has urged the police to register his complaint under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), investigate the matter, direct the Transport Department to accept legal tender, and initiate legal action against the officials found responsible.

He further contended that no government department has the authority to declare Indian currency unacceptable for payment of government dues and requested that a copy of the FIR be provided to him in accordance with legal procedure.

The complaint was submitted to the Porvorim Police Station on July 21, 2026. There was no immediate response from the Directorate of Transport regarding the allegations.