CHANDIGARH, May 8 — The Municipal Corporation (MC) is considering a proposal to exempt orphans from paying property tax, following a personal appeal from a young girl who lost both her parents and received a hefty tax notice.
Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla has directed officials to prepare a formal agenda to be placed before the House Tax Committee at its next meeting. “The matter was brought to my attention by a young girl who recently lost her parents and had no source of income to pay the tax,” Babla said. “We are working on a mechanism to support orphans in such situations.”
The girl, accompanied by a neighbour, approached the MC seeking a waiver after being issued a property tax notice running into thousands of rupees. Currently, the law provides no provision to exempt orphans from such payments.
In response, the Mayor instructed officials to explore legal options and draft an agenda for consideration by the committee. “It is important we look at ways to assist those who are most vulnerable,” the Mayor added.
Under the existing property tax bylaws notified by the Chandigarh Administration, certain categories already receive exemptions. These include residential buildings—up to 300 square yards—that are self-occupied and owned by current or former personnel of the Indian armed forces. For larger properties, a 50 percent tax applies.
Widows and individuals with disabilities who qualify under Section 80U of the Income Tax Act, 1961, are also exempt from property tax on similar terms.
The Corporation had earlier proposed exempting wives of defence personnel from the tax. Although this agenda item was placed before the House Tax Committee during its last scheduled meeting, it was not discussed as the session was postponed.
With growing calls for broader relief, the proposed exemption for orphans may expand the city’s social safety net, if cleared by the committee.
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