Melanie Catriona Singh v. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation And ORS.

10.09.2025 Ct. No.3 Sl. No.40 akd W. P. A. 28269 of 2024 [Melanie Catriona Singh -Vs- The Kolkata Municipal Corporation & Ors.] Mr. Farhan Ghaffar ... ... for the petitioner Mr. Biswajit Mukherjee Ms. Paroma Sengupta ... ... for the KMC 1.

Affidavit-of-service filed in Court today is taken on record. 2.

The petitioner, by way of the present writ petition, is challenging the notice dated 06.03.2024, affixed on the conspicuous part of her premises being Flat No. 1A, 1st floor, 86A, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata - 700014. By way of the said notice, it has been alleged that a sum of Rs.20,42,539/- is outstanding against the Assessee No. 110530200747.

3.

It is the case of the petitioner that she is an overseas citizen of Indian origin holding the citizenship of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island. She is the lawful owner of the abovementioned flat, which stood duly mutated in her name, by virtue of a mutation certificate dated 18.09.2018, whereby the Assessee No. 110530201557 was allotted in her favour. The petitioner has been regularly making payments of the municipal dues from time to time in respect of the said property, as and when the same becomes due and payable. According to the petitioner, there is no arrear whatsoever against the said property. In fact, a 'No Outstanding Certificated (NOC)' dated 21.11.2024 was issued in her favour by the Assessment Collection Department, Kolkata Municipal Corporation,

certifying that the payment status stands valid upto 31.12.2024. Notwithstanding the same, the Chief Manager (Revenue), Assessment Collection Department, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (respondent no.4) affixed the impugned notice dated 06.03.2024 on her property, purporting that a demand of Rs.20,42,539/- is outstanding in relation to the flat under Assessee No. 110530200747. Being aggrieved, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 24.03.2024 via e-mail to the concerned department bringing this anomaly to their notice. However, till date, no response has been received to the said representation. The petitioner contends that she has been wrongly saddled with the said demand.

4.

Learned counsel for the respondent-Kolkata Municipal Corporation submits that the authorities are ready and willing to consider and dispose of the representation of the petitioner dated 24.03.2024 submitted via e-mail to the Corporation. 5.

In light of the above submission, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner would be satisfied if her representation dated 24.03.2024, submitted via e-mail, is considered and decided by the Corporation in a time-bound manner.

6.

Accordingly, this Court directs the Assessor-Collector (South), Kolkata Municipal Corporation, to consider and decide the representation of the petitioner dated 24.03.2024, sent via email, by passing a reasoned and speaking order, strictly in accordance with law, within a period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order. Prior to the passing of such order, the said authority shall afford an opportunity of personal hearing to the petitioner.

7.

With the aforesaid directions, the present writ petition is disposed of.

8.

Since no affidavits have been filed by the respondents, the allegations made in the writ petition shall not be deemed to have been admitted.

9.

There shall be no order as to costs.

10.

Let urgent Photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties on usual undertaking. (Gaurang Kanth, J.)