Andhra Pradesh HC issues notice to state govt over property tax

In response to a petition challenging the new property tax system, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued notices to the state government. The taxpayers association filed a lawsuit in the high court challenging the new property tax regime, which levies a tax on the property's capital value rather than annual rental income. The government recently issued GO 198, which mandates the implementation of a new property tax and vacant land tax regime in urban local governments. On behalf of the petitioners, advocate Sunkara Rajendra Prasad told a bench led by Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami and Justice Ninala Jayasurya that the amended Andhra Pradesh Municipal Act was unconstitutional and undemocratic. He also argued that the new tax regime was being implemented without giving people the opportunity to voice their concerns. As the objections were called during the Covid-19 pandemic, many people were hesitant to go to the municipalities to submit their grievances, he said, adding that while representations were made to provide alternative platforms, such as online submission of objections, the officials did not consider the requests. G Shivaji, the government pleader for municipal administration, argued that the state government amended the law in response to the Centre government's recommendations, which proposed and issued guidelines for a uniform tax policy across the country. According to him, the state government only followed the recommendations. After considering all of the arguments, the high court issued notices to the state government to file counter-affidavits in the petition and scheduled a hearing for eight weeks later. On behalf of the petitioners, attorney Sunkara Rajendra Prasad argued that the new tax regime was being implemented without giving people a chance to express their concerns. Image SourceAlso read: BMC to waive off around Rs 41 cr property tax for hotels Also read: Pune Municipal Corporation seals ten properties for tax defaults