Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 11: Much awaited reforms including imposition of Property Tax in both commercial and residential areas and setting up of a Property Tax Board, which were lingering on for the past about two years, were unlikely to come up in the Legislative Council in autumn session of the Legislature, where the Elders had blocked it during budget session, as a Joint Select Committee (JSC) set up by the Council Chairman on the two legislations was yet to hold even its first meeting.
Official sources confirmed to the Excelsior that the JSC on Property Tax and Property Board, which was set up after budget session of the Legislature, has not met even once in more than last three months.
With autumn session of the Legislature due to be held by the end of September in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, there is no possibility of the JSC finalizing its report by then to get the bill passed in the Upper House, they said.
Legislative Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra had constituted the JSC headed by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand after the budget session of the Legislature with a direction to submit report in next session of the House. Tara Chand had been appointed as head of the JSC as he holds the portfolio of Housing and Urban Development Department to which the bills of Property Tax and Property Board pertained.
The JSC comprised members of National Conference, Congress, PDP, BJP and others.
Legislative Council Secretary, Mohammad Ashraf, when approached for comments, confirmed that no meeting of the JSC on the two legislations of Property Tax and Property Board has been held so far. He said it was up to the JSC Chairman to convene the meeting.
The Legislative Assembly had passed the bills pertaining to imposition of Property Tax and setting up of Property Board during budget session of the Legislature in February-March last year. However, the Legislative Council had blocked it. As the bill was not taken up for one year, it lapsed.
The Housing and Urban Development Department had again introduced the bill during budget session of the Legislature this year. Again, the Legislative Assembly passed it on last day of the session. However, the Upper House had once again blocked it and stressed for constitution of the JSC to go through the bill. The member’s view had prevailed and the bill was once again sent to the JSC, which was constituted by the Council Chairman.
Even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said on floor of the House during budget session of the Legislature that there was no other option but to pass Property Tax and Property Board bills to secure the grants blocked by the Central Government in the absence of reforms.
Sources said though the Union Government has released a part of the amount blocked for urban reforms in the State due to delay in imposition of Property Tax in both urban and rural areas and setting up of Property Tax Board to decide the tax slab, a major share was still pending.
According to reliable sources, since the House and Urban Development Department was with the Congress, the party didn’t want to take blame for imposition of Property Tax on the people of the State for the fear of losing the vote bank. They cited that majority of Congress MLCs had stalled the bill both the times and this year got it referred to the JSC.
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