The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is taking decisive action to recover pending property tax dues amounting to a substantial ₹800 crore from defaulters whose pleas are currently under judicial review. The move comes as a part of a vigorous drive to ensure that all taxpayers fulfill their financial obligations to the city.
PMC Commissioner Vikram Kumar recently convened a crucial meeting with civic officials to strategize the recovery process. In light of the significant sum of outstanding property tax, the PMC is leaving no stone unturned to expedite the collection.
The legal department has played a pivotal role in this process, having submitted approximately 150 proposals to the PMC property tax department. These proposals pertain to citizens who have taken their property tax disputes to court, challenging the dues imposed by the PMC. Importantly, in many of these cases, the courts have not granted a stay on the collection of the dues, granting PMC the green light to pursue its rightful dues.
Nisha Chavan, the head of the legal department at PMC, shared insights into the ongoing efforts, stating, “Many citizens have approached the court and have challenged the property tax dues. We are in the process of collecting all the information.”
Crucially, despite the legal challenges mounted by citizens, the courts have not intervened to prevent the collection of dues in numerous cases. This favorable legal disposition enables the PMC to proceed with the recovery process unhindered.
In line with this, PMC Commissioner Vikram Kumar has issued directives to initiate the auction of establishments controlled by property tax defaulters. This proactive approach aims to compel defaulters to settle their outstanding property tax dues. Kumar has also urged the legal department to expedite the tax collection process.
Officials from the property tax department have confirmed that they have already initiated the auction process for 212 properties. Furthermore, they have engaged with the collector’s office to ensure that the PMC’s name is registered on the property cards of defaulters. This measure prevents defaulters from selling their properties without first clearing their tax dues.
The PMC’s rigorous pursuit of property tax dues underscores the municipality’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and the equitable distribution of financial obligations among citizens. The recovery of ₹800 crore in pending property taxes will not only bolster the city’s finances but also facilitate vital public services and infrastructure projects for the benefit of all residents.
