UT Administration hiked property tax illegally, claims MP Tewari

Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari has termed the way the UT Administration enhanced the property tax as illegal. He was speaking after inaugurating a CCTV camera project being executed under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development fund in Sector 45 here on Friday.

Ward No. 34 councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi and Chandigarh Pradesh Congress Committee president HS Lucky were also present at the event.

Tewari said the agenda for increasing property tax was not put up before the House Tax Committee and was withdrawn without discussion in the MC House. No resolution was passed either.

He said Section 423 of the MC Act talks about the government’s power to annul or modify illegal proceedings of the House. It also says the government may by written order annul or omit from the records any proceedings of the corporation, which, it considers not conforming with this Act, or any rules or bylaws made thereunder. The government may do all things necessary to secure such conformity, he said.

Unless the government believes the immediate making of such an order is necessary, it shall, before making an order under this Section, give the corporation an opportunity of explaining why such an order should not be made, said Tewari, while shedding light on the Act.

The MP said the UT Administration had not followed the provisions of laid down law provisions while enhancing the property tax.

He also criticised the move of the BJP councillors threatening to resign from their posts on the property tax issue. “By doing so, they are running away from their responsibility,” Tewari said, while demanding a white paper on the financial situation of the MC.

He further accused the BJP of doing nothing but deceiving the CHB flat allottees under the guise of regularising necessary changes in flats, he said.

Meanwhile, Gabi said the residents of Sector 45 had been troubled by the rising crime. Around 60 cameras would be installed at all entry points in Sectors 45-C and 45-D, ensuring surveillance of public areas and internal roads, he added

Chandigarh