M.K.Bakthavatchalam, v. The District Collector,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 09.11.2023 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.SANJAY V.GANGAPURWALA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY M.K.Bakthavatchalam ..

Petitioner Vs.

1. The District Collector Tiruvallur District Tiruvallur.

2. The Assistant Director (Panchayat) Collector Office Tiruvallur.

3. The Block Development Officer (Village Panchayat) Poonamallee Panchayat Union Poonamallee Chennai 600 056.

4. M/s. Jai Sakthi Educational Trust Rep. by its Managing Trustee having registered Office at No.23, Railway Colony Street Nelson Manickam Road Aminjikarai, Chennai 600 029.

..

Respondents

Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 3 to take action on the representations dated 14.5.2018 and 25.5.2018 given by the petitioner regarding evasion of assessment of property tax by the 4th respondent Institution due to the Varadharajapuram Panchayat, Poonamallee Panchayat Union, Tiruvallur District, for several years, within a reasonable period.

For the Petitioner : Mr.A.E.Ravichandran For the Respondents : Mr.P.Muthukumar State Government Pleader for Respondents 1 to 3 Mr.S.Soundararajan for Respondent-4

ORDER

(Made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) We have heard Mr.A.E.Ravichandran, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr.P.Muthukumar, learned State Government Pleader for the respondents 1 to 3 and Mr.S.Soundararajan, learned counsel for the fourth respondent.

2. The grievance of the petitioner is that the fourth respondent has not paid the property tax. Huge buildings are constructed for various Colleges, Hospital, Library, Auditorium etc., but only a sum of

Rs.12,01,517/- has been paid by the fourth respondent as property tax to the Panchayat. Tthe fourth respondent is evading the property tax.

3. The petitioner claims to be an Ex-President of the Panchayat. In that event, he should be more interested to see that all the persons who have not paid the property tax are made to pay the same and not to drag one person or the institution.

4. Be that as it may, learned counsel for the fourth respondent submits that as on date, there is no arrears and the entire property tax assessed is paid.

5. In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of. There will be no order as to costs.

(S.V.G., CJ.) (D.B.C., J.) 09.11.2023 Index :

Yes/No :

Yes/No kpl

To

1. The District Collector Tiruvallur District Tiruvallur.

2. The Assistant Director (Panchayat) Collector Office Tiruvallur.

3. The Block Development Officer (Village Panchayat) Poonamallee Panchayat Union Poonamallee Chennai 600 056.

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J (kpl) 09.11.2023