The bill pertaining to imposition of property tax and formation of Property Tax Board has become an interesting controversy at the State Legislature. Last year a bill to this purpose was introduced in the Legislative Assembly which passed it. The elders turned it down. We will come to know the reasons soon. The bill became dead as it was not revived for one year. In budget session this year, it was re-introduced at the fag end of the session. The elders again turned it down but the chairman appointed a Joint Select Committee comprising members of National Conference, Congress, PDP, BJP and others. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand (Cong) being the minister holding the portfolio of Urban Housing and Development was made chairman of the JSC. He did not convene a meeting till date. Observers believe that he may or may not call a meeting at all. It is his discretion. As such there appears little hope that the Property Tax and Property Tax Board Bill will be discussed by the Upper House in the autumn session of the legislature this year. If it is not taken up, then the practice of the last year will be repeated; the bill will lapse and then the exercise of re-introducing it will be gone through once again. That makes a good tamasha.
Are they serious about bringing in economic reforms? It is a moot question. So far it seems a see-saw battle between the two houses of the legislature. The Upper House enjoys majority of Congress MLAs. Wherever self interests of the elected representatives converge, they demonstrate visible solidarity. Take the case of enhancement of emoluments to the legislators. It touched their skin and with a single stroke of pen, the emolument enhancement bill was passed with no objections and no dissensions.
The question is that the Centre has been insisting on economic and financial reforms in the State. It wants to minimize State’s financial dependence on the Centre. It should generate its revenue maximally. The Centre has promised financial support to equal the funds raised through indigenous sources. In other words, the share of the Central Government remains blocked as long as the state does not raise its local share. This was the motivation for the NC-led Government to introduce the Property Tax and Tax Board Bill in the Assembly. Are they really sincere about it or not is debatable. This much is almost certain that the ruling majority has been eyeing the equal share which the Centre would provide in case the enactment of the bill took place.
The reason why the Congress dominated Legislative Council turned the bill down is that since imposition of property tax in both commercial and residential areas is not going to have public approval, the Congress would not want to take the blame of seeing it through and loosing support in their constituencies. In other words this important financial reform is being politicized by the Congress. It is a retarded act and one is surprise that while all over India property tax and tax boards are fully functional, the State of Jammu and Kashmir, hitherto outside the ambit of this taxation, has reservations in bringing in the proper legislation. Appeasement of a certain section of people at the cost of national interests is unacceptable. The State claims its full share in all areas when discussing annual plans with the Planning Commission in New Delhi. The latter has been frugal and forthcoming but at the same time, it wants the State to come at par in regard to financial reforms with the rest of the country. In other words it is justifiable that the State also contributes to the national exchequer in accordance with the practice laid down by the financial authority in the country. The question is of separating political interests from financial imperatives of the State. Close examination of taxation policy of the Government will show that it is very judicious and takes into account larger interests of the people. J&K shall have to fall in line with the rest of the country in this matter. Judicious taxation is the key to development because it is the key generator of resources for development. The Legislative Council should rise above party politics and play national politics. We are already under some economic strain and the developmental rate has come down. We need to be responsive to the prevailing financial situation in the country. Political parties, especially the mainstream parties have to educate the masses of people that property tax and composition of tax board are unavoidable requirements of contemporary society.
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