Ghaziabad: The proposed steep increase in house tax by the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation has sparked political and administrative tensions, with Mayor Sunita Dayal and Municipal Commissioner Vikramaditya Singh Malik at odds over the move. The issue comes just ahead of the final hearing in the High Court, expected on February 3, making it a matter of legal as well as civic concern.
Political and Administrative Standoff
Mayor Dayal has pushed to convene a board meeting to discuss the house tax hike. Officials, however, argue that calling a meeting during the ongoing parliamentary session would be legally improper, as local MPs are ex-officio members of the municipal board. In a letter to municipal authorities, Mayor Dayal insisted that any increase in house tax without board approval would be invalid and reiterated that the board meeting will soon be called to determine the final rates.
“We sent a letter to the municipal authorities on February 2 to convene the board meeting. The MP’s absence was noted, but there was no objection from him, and he even provided a written note confirming this. It is now up to the authorities to organize the meeting,” Mayor Dayal stated.
Sources suggest that regardless of the High Court verdict, the Mayor wants to signal to residents that councilors and the municipal board oppose arbitrary tax hikes and that such moves cannot be enforced unilaterally by officials.
Commissioner’s Stand
Municipal Commissioner Malik maintained that the board meeting cannot be held during the parliamentary session, citing precedents from past sessions. He also noted that sending notices to major commercial defaulters is a routine procedure.
“We are preparing to convene the board meeting and will do so at the earliest possible time. As for sending notices to major house tax defaulters, this is a routine administrative step,” Commissioner Malik said.
Commercial Defaulters Targeted Amid Tax Dispute
Amid the legal and political tussle, the municipal corporation has begun sending notices to large commercial defaulters. Last year, when house tax rates were normal, the municipal corporation collected around ₹300 crore. This year, despite higher rates, only ₹200 crore has been recovered so far, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement.
The standoff between the Mayor and the Municipal Commissioner underscores the growing tensions between elected representatives and administrative officials in Ghaziabad, as the city braces for the potential tax hike and its impact on residents.