Chandigarh, April 21 — Less than four weeks after the Chandigarh administration notified increased property tax rates for residential and commercial units, the decision now faces judicial scrutiny. A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, calling for the notification to be struck down.
The petition, filed by retired Deputy Superintendent of Police Vijay Pal Singh, terms the March 31 notification “arbitrary” and contrary to public interest. Represented by advocate Ferry Sofat and others, Singh argued that the administration bypassed statutory safeguards in issuing the revised tax order.
“The notification violates provisions of the Punjab Municipal Corporation (Extension to Chandigarh) Act, 1994,” the petition reads. Singh’s counsel further submitted that the Municipal Corporation House had already rejected the proposal to revise property taxes during its March 25 meeting, rendering the administration’s move “illegal and beyond its jurisdiction.”
According to the plea, the increased taxes disproportionately affect lower-income residents, making them bear an undue financial burden. The petitioner cited Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before law, to argue that the tax hike was discriminatory and unfair.
Calling for a stay on the notification, Singh urged the court to issue a writ of certiorari to quash the order. “This move goes against the principles of fairness and justice and serves no public interest,” the plea stated.
The petition is yet to be listed for hearing.
