CPI(M) demands rollback of indirect property tax revision
Communist Party of India (Marxist) has appealed to State Government to rollback the manifold increase in property tax on houses and shops of poor people.
In a statement, its Virudhunagar district secretary A. Gurusamy said that the party had objected to the State government's proposal in 2022-23 for property tax revision.
As per the proposal 25% tax was increased for houses up to 600 square feet, 50% increase for houses up to 1,200 square feet, 75% increase for 1,800 sq ft and 100% increase for houses beyond 1,801 sq ft.
The Director of Municipal Administration, in a circular, dated July 20, had contended that the Union government had made increase in property tax collection mandatory for getting subsidy fund under Cleanliness India Mission and Amrut Scheme.
Based on that the officials were asked to increase the property tax on properties, on which minimum tax had been imposed.
The Commissioners of municipalities and corporations were asked to make field visits on buildings for which the property tax had been fixed below ₹100 to revise it correctly.
While the poor people were living in such buildings, the officials had increased the half-yearly property tax for those houses to ₹500 without giving any notice to the building owners.
'Even the elected representatives were not informed about this move and increased the property tax manifold,' Mr. Gurusamy accused.
The elected representatives belonging to various parties, including the DMK, CPI (M), Congress, had walked out of the council meetings. But, no action has been taken to reduce the increased property tax, he charged.
While the property has been increased significantly in 2022-23 and the State Government has proposed to increase it by 6% every year, this indirect manifold increase in property tax without the knowledge of the house owners was not fair, the statement said.
The party has gone to the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court against the decision of the State government.
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