The Times of India 20.07.2017
After closure order from Madras HC, property tax remittance by Koyambedu shops touches Rs 1.36 crore in a single day
CHENNAI: Property tax payment to the tune of Rs 1.36 crore poured into the coffer of the Chennai Corporation in a single day from the shop owners in Koyambedu market, after the Madras high court ordered closure of 729 defaulting shops.
On Tuesday, Justice N Kirubakaran censured the higher officials of the corporation for "deliberately failing" to collect property tax to the tune of Rs 2.48 crore for the shops in Koyambedu market and directed the authorities to seal 729 defaulting shops.
The judge passed the interim order on a plea moved by the shop owners assailing the property tax demand made by the corporation from 1996 to 2015.
After the news broke about the closure order, defaulting shop owners started remitting the tax arrears which totalled Rs 1.36 crore in a single day.
When the plea came up for hearing on Thursday, the authorities filed a report on the developments and submitted that they have also sealed 39 shops which were still found to be defaulting tax payment. The officials sought some more time for further action.
On Tuesday, Justice N Kirubakaran censured the higher officials of the corporation for "deliberately failing" to collect property tax to the tune of Rs 2.48 crore for the shops in Koyambedu market and directed the authorities to seal 729 defaulting shops.
The judge passed the interim order on a plea moved by the shop owners assailing the property tax demand made by the corporation from 1996 to 2015.
After the news broke about the closure order, defaulting shop owners started remitting the tax arrears which totalled Rs 1.36 crore in a single day.
When the plea came up for hearing on Thursday, the authorities filed a report on the developments and submitted that they have also sealed 39 shops which were still found to be defaulting tax payment. The officials sought some more time for further action.
Recording the submissions, the judge adjourned the hearing by a week.
During earlier hearings, the judge also pulled up the officials for not revising the tax since 1998 despite the fact that the City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919 mandates such revision once in four years.
Latest Comment
We need many Judges in line with Judge Kirubakaran of Chennai High Court. Interim closure order of 729 shops at Koyambedu for non payment of tax to City Corporation. The Judge proclaimed that the civ... Read MoreA Xavier