KMC to complain against lawyers

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation authorities have decided to complain to the Bar Council about the activities of a section of municipal tribunal lawyers.
Highly placed KMC sources told TNN that these lawyers were indulging in malpractices, seriously affecting the work of the municipal assessment tribunal.
Recently, at least three cases have come to the notice of the civic authorities where forged `no-outstanding certificates’ have been submitted to the tribunal.
The certificates are mandatory under section 189 of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation Act, 1980, in order to put forth an appeal before the tribunal regarding valuation of property.
Some property owners who have large amounts outstanding in taxes, however, have been found to be producing the NOCs and going ahead with their appeals. This is causing considerable loss of revenue to the KMC.
Suspecting foul play, the authorities have conducted inquiries and found a number of NOCs to be forged.
“We currently have at least three cases before us,� disclosed a senior official, alleging that the “parties� obtain these fake documents through their lawyers.
Municipal Assessment Tribunal Bar Association secretary Jayanta Kumar Mukherjee, however, told TNN that lawyers had nothing to do with the irregularities.
“The KMC issues the certificates and if these are forged, the employees concerned should be held responsible,� he said.
While an official admitted that collusion of the civic staff could not be ruled out, he said there was enough ground to move against some lawyers and said the decision was approved from the top.