Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 24: Strongly opposing imposition of property tax in J&K, the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and various other Trade bodies have warned the Government to withdraw the said order, otherwise, Jammu Chamber after consultation with Bar Association, transporters and civil society will go for indefinite Jammu bandh.
While addressing media persons here today, Gupta said that Government had last year decided to take this initiative, but JCCI played its role and took up this issue with the Government and successfully got it stalled. Now again, the government decided to implement the property tax w.e.f 1st April 2023 and issued a statutory order SO-87 in this regard.
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Gupta further said that at present there is no land policy and we are of the firm opinion that Government should come up with a land policy so that the people of Jammu and Kashmir can get the ownership rights / lease rights. At present, the people of Jammu are much disturbed by non-cooperative attitude of the government instead of giving relief to the general public, Government is imposing property tax.
The business community has out rightly rejected imposition of property tax in the meeting held on Thursday in Chamber House and the participants/presidents of different Bazar and Trade Associations unanimously opposed the implementation of Property Tax and demanded immediate withdrawal of this SRO. They were of the firm opinion that if the Government refuses to withdraw this SRO the Chamber would go for Jammu Bandh.
By imposing property tax the Government is of the view that by way of imposing the property tax the, Municipal Bodies and Local Bodies will get central aid which otherwise they are losing due to non-implementation of property tax. “We are of the firm opinion that the states where this property tax is applicable they are already developed state/UT’s and our comparison with the nearby State/UT’s cannot be justified,” he added.
“If we compare the tax rates applicable in Chandigarh UT, this way we are comparing highly developed UT with our under developed UT, even where the basic amenities which are required by common people are not available here,” he regretted.
“Chamber is of the firm opinion that this SRO should be withdrawn by the government to give a sigh of relief to the people of Jammu and Kashmir UT. And if the government fails to understand our feeling than we shall have no other option but to go for a bandh call by consulting civil societies, Bar Association and others,” Gupta cautioned.
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