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Panvel civic body's property tax department has initiated a crackdown against defaulters in its jurisdiction who have failed to pay their property tax levied by the civic body. The drive began on March 8, and the vigilance team has served notices to a total of 118 defaulters, sealing their properties subsequently. The civic body's officials claim that the sealing drive has been successful, with 115 out of 118 defaulters clearing their outstanding property tax bill, amounting to a total of Rs. 2.12 crore. Three commercial property owners have paid in instalments by giving post-dated cheques.
However, several commercial property owners have alleged that the sealing of their property is arm-twisting by the Panvel civic body when an NGO's petition opposing the retrospective property tax is pending in the High Court, and the decision is awaited. The property owners claim that the sealing drive is an extreme high-handedness, which has been undertaken despite the property tax issue in the Panvel civic body area being a sub-judice matter.
In an interview captured by ET Realty, Harishchandra Kadu, the head of the property tax department of Panvel civic body, stated that while some citizens, under the banner of an NGO, have filed a petition in the High Court opposing the property tax levied by the Panvel city municipal corporation, claiming that the property tax is retrospective and double taxation as CIDCO is also levying service charges.
However, the High Court has neither ordered a stay nor ordered that any coercive action cannot be taken by the Panvel civic body. Therefore, the Panvel civic body can act on the defaulters of property tax payment by sealing their properties and issuing notice to immediately clear the outstanding property tax bills. After completing the drive against commercial property owners, the sealing of residential properties of defaulters of property tax will start.
The sealing of commercial properties has led to several property owners immediately clearing their outstanding amount of property tax to prevent the sealing of their property and avoid the loss of business. The sealing drive has been successful in recovering a significant amount of property tax, which the civic body had not received earlier. While the civic body officials have stated that the drive is necessary to recover the unpaid taxes, the property owners have claimed that it is an arm-twisting tactic.
In conclusion, the Panvel civic body's property tax department has started a sealing drive against commercial property owners who have defaulted on the payment of property tax. While the civic body officials have stated that the drive is necessary to recover unpaid taxes, property owners have alleged that the sealing drive is an arm-twisting tactic. The issue is sub-judice in the High Court, and the decision is awaited.
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