Submit action plan to verify correctness of property tax assessments: HC
Madras high court
on Wednesday directed the Madurai district collector to coordinate with the city corporation commissioner to work out an effective modality for surveying properties, and submit an action plan to verify the correctness of property tax assessments of all buildings in Madurai city.
As asked by the court on Tuesday, the corporation commissioner filed a report on Wednesday, stating that there are nearly 3,49,741 property tax assessments within the corporation limits. Pursuant to the court's order, a committee/team with 11 officials was constituted under the deputy commissioner (revenue) of the corporation to ascertain whether any irregularity or under-assessment was made. The team would carry out inspections regarding the assessment, and if any irregularities are found, necessary actions would be taken, stated the corporation commissioner.
A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice G Arul Murugan observed that details about the action plan were not mentioned in the report. They said an action plan would be helpful for finding out illegalities or under-assessment in the matter of property tax. Hence, the judges directed the district collector to coordinate with the corporation commissioner to work out an effective modality for conducting field inspections, surveying properties, and verifying the correctness of property tax assessments.
If necessary, the assistance of deputy tahsildars could be availed to constitute sub-committees in all five zones of the corporation.
The judge directed the district collector and corporation commissioner to submit an effective action plan regarding the property tax assessments for the court to ensure that the efforts are taken in a fruitful manner. The judges also made it clear that the special investigation team (SIT) headed by DIG, Madurai range, Abhinav Kumar, should continue investigation into the scam independently.
The hearing in the case was adjourned to Aug 26.
The court passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation filed by AIADMK councillor T Ravi, of ward 83, stating that a huge scam in the assessment of property tax in the corporation came to light in 2024. He alleged that several corporation officials, in connivance with zonal chairpersons, were involved, resulting in a loss of over Rs200 crore to the corporation.
He stated that police had taken action only against low profile people and left out the real culprits who have political influence.
During the earlier hearing, the court observed that a scam of this magnitude had to be investigated by an IPS officer, which should be monitored by higher authorities to ensure there are no lapses and no higher-level people are left out from the ambit of prosecution.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Police must be true to Constitution: Meeran Borwankar
1 2 Pune: Former Pune police commissioner Meeran Borwankar on Wednesday said political interference is hampering the efficiency of the police, leading officers away from the truth. She said officers must remain committed to the Constitution, keeping religion away from their duty. She said, "The sole loyalty should be to the Constitution in the police force and all other departments. One may read The Bible, Bhagvad Gita, Guru Granth Sahib or Quran — and I respect all those who do — but such practices should be done at home and not in office. It will be extremely dangerous the day khaki turns saffron, green or white." Speaking at a book launch held to mark slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar's twelfth death anniversary, the retired IPS officer gave examples of the 2008 Malegaon blast, 2006 Mumbai train blast and the murder investigation of Dabholkar. She said political interference in such sensitive cases was troubling. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Gold Rates Today in Pune | Silver Rates Today in Pune "In his article, retired IPS officer Julio Ribeiro wrote that Hemant Karkare (then chief of state ATS) told him just a day or two before his death about the pressure he was facing from a Delhi-based leader while investigating the Malegaon blast case," she said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "Former public prosecutor for the ATS in the said case, Rohini Salian, questioned the recent verdict and asked — 'Where has all the evidence gone?'" she added. Borwankar said even the judge had raised concerns over the probe in the Dabholkar case and said the CBI had failed to identify the real conspirators and "it was either a failure, deliberate (negligence) or the result of influence from some powerful individuals." "We could not give justice to 190 victims of the Mumbai train blast, the victims of the Malegaon blast and Dabholkar," she said, highlighting the delay of cases in the court. "It takes years for a final verdict and cases which involve activist Gauri Lankesh, social activist comrade Govind Pansare and scholar MM Kalburgi have remained pending for years now," she added. Borwankar said she had received a threat mail for attending the event. "Before coming to this programme, I wrote an article to which I received reactions from people through about 20 mails and some 10 WhatsApp messages. In one mail, I was threatened for attending this book launch." The former IPS officer recalled an incident where she experienced political pressure during her tenure as the Pune CP. "During electronic surveillance, we caught Shiv Sena member Neelam Gorhe and UBT MLA (then with undivided Sena) Milind Narvekar conspiring to create violence in Pune. Despite reluctance from local police officers, I told my joint CP to ensure that a case was registered. I appointed my personal staff to investigate the matter," she said, adding her team thoroughly probed the case and filed a chargesheet in court. "However, later the govt withdrew the case. One can imagine how powerful the politicians are and people question the police," she added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Former cop, wife booked for abetment to suicide in North Paravur
Kochi: Ernakulam Rural police on Wednesday registered a case of abetment to suicide against a retired police officer and his wife following the death of a homemaker in Kottuvally in North Paravur. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The victim, Asha Benny (46), allegedly ended her life on Tuesday by jumping into a river after what her family described as relentless harassment by the accused over money she had borrowed from them. Police initially booked the accused couple — Pradeep Kumar and his wife, Bindu Pradeep, Asha's neighbours — under BNS Section 194 (unnatural death) but later added BNS Section 108 (abetment to suicide). Police said Asha had borrowed Rs 10 lakh from Bindu two years ago. Family members alleged that despite repaying the loan with interest, Asha was under severe mental stress due to constant demands for additional payments. Just days before her death, she had filed a complaint with the superintendent of police, who forwarded it to the North Paravur police. Both parties were summoned to the station on Tuesday, but the matter was left to be resolved mutually. After returning home, Bindu allegedly went to Asha's house, verbally abusing and threatening her. Later that day, Asha is believed to have jumped into the river near her residence. Fire officers pulled her out, but doctors declared her dead on arrival at the hospital. A suicide note recovered from Asha's house alleged that Pradeep and Bindu had demanded an additional Rs 22 lakh, even after she had settled the original loan with interest. Pradeep Kumar and Bindu have been absconding since Tuesday evening. Their daughter has been called in for questioning. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Police teams inspected the victim's house on Wednesday as part of evidence collection. Ernakulam rural superintendent of police M Hemalatha said a special investigation team (SIT) has been formed. "The inquiry will cover all aspects, including financial transactions and the source of income of the accused," she said. Police added that Asha's earlier complaint to the SP, which was transferred to Paravur police, will also be reviewed as part of the probe. Pradeep had earlier been named in a bribery case linked to the 2018 Varapuzha Sreejith custodial death case. He was accused of accepting Rs 15,000 from Sreejith's relatives, promising to have his name removed from the list of accused. Following the inquiry, Pradeep was suspended from service.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Stalin should be credited with turning Tamil Nadu into a top debtor, says EPS
Leader of Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday said that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin should be credited for turning Tamil Nadu into a top debtor State in the country with around ₹4.38 lakh crore borrowed during four years of the DMK's reign. Addressing a public gathering here as part of his State-wide tour, Mr. Palaniswami said that the DMK-led government has borrowed from various multi-financial institutions for Tamil Nadu since the party came to power in May 2021. With this, the total debt of the State stood at over ₹9.4 lakh crore. 'By 2026 polls, Tamil Nadu's total borrowings during the DMK regime could touch ₹5.38 lakh crore - an increase of ₹one lakh crore more. The entire debt burden lies on the people of the State,' he claimed. The AIADMK leader said that the inordinate delay in making a list of senior police officers to become the next Director-General of Police (DGP) reflects the administrative ineffectiveness of the bureaucracy in preparing a list of candidates to become the next police chief. A clear set of guidelines has been laid out for the selection of the next police chief. However, the State government has not shown any keen interest in the selection process despite incumbent DGP (Mr. Shankar Jiwal) retiring by August 31, he said. The former Chief Minister also alleged that illegal sand mining in the Palar river is rampant, with loads of river sand transported to neighbouring States, using arterial stretches. Government officials and police should take stringent action against such illegal sand mining, Mr. Palaniswami said. Highlighting lawlessness in the State, Mr. Palaniswami blamed the DMK government for not allowing Tamil Nadu police to function in a free and fair manner. As a result, criminals have lost fear of police personnel and have dared to murder them. Easy availability of drugs and other banned substances in the State also contributes to rising incidents of crime against women and children, he alleged.
