Date:26/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/26/stories/2007102663870300.htm

New Delhi

MCD constitutes taxation tribunal

Staff Reporter

To function from the MCD’s office on Boulevard Road
To tackle 2,600 cases involving 400 crore in tax

NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has constituted a taxation tribunal to hear tax-related grievances. Former Additional District and Sessions Judge H. P. Sharma will be the chairperson of the tribunal. The other two members are D. K. Saini and O. P. Kelkar.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, MCD Standing Committee Chairman Vijender Gupta said the tribunal would function from the civic body’s office on Boulevard Road and tackle over 2,681 cases involving nearly Rs.400 crore in property tax.

Mr. Gupta said under the Unit Area Method it was mandatory to first settle the cases in the tribunal as district courts were not empowered to deal with property tax matters.

“Since the implementation of the Unit Area Method, property tax has to be paid on the basis of self-assessment of property. We have now started scrutinising the returns and a number of discrepancies have been being noticed.”

He said property tax evaders who had filed wrong statements would face penal action. The MCD could impose a 30 per cent fine in cases of under-assessed properties, wrong information and concealment of facts.