Bulk SMS messages from marketing firms is passé. But what about the same from the government? Last week, the corporate affairs ministry sent out bulk SMSs telling companies about an amnesty scheme for those that had not filed the mandatory reports with the registrar of companies in their localities — under the Company Law Settlement Scheme 2010, defaulters will not face any penal action and three-fourths of the penal fee would be waived. Since the ministry never had the mobile numbers of the defaulting company promoters, its SMSs announcing a “bonanza” were sent to all and sundry. Still, it’s a start.