HC seeks details of method adopted in property tax hike

A division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad before whom the plea moved by E V Velu, MLA, Tiruvannamalai Constituency, came up on Friday, posted the case to March 27 for further hearing.

Velu had contended that the impugned Government Order (GO) classifies the building as residential buildings, rented residential buildings and non-residential buildings. Based on this, it has proposed revision of property tax at not more than 50 per cent for residential and not more than 100 per cent for rented residential buildings and non-residential buildings.

Further, noting that the impugned GO is silent about such uniform increase based on the said classification and no materials or justification is found in the GO for such increase, said “The GO also discriminates residences occupied by owner and tenant. The tax is increased for residences occupied by owner while no increase for residences occupied by tenant.” The plea also noted that the guidelines issued by Tiruvannamalai Municipality is without any basis and materials and mere approval by the council resolution will not legalise such illegal actions.