Default in property tax payment: Madras HC orders to seal commercial buildings in Madurai

MADURAI: The

Madurai

bench of the Madras high court on Friday asked the Madurai Corporation to seal

commercial buildings

here if their owners don’t pay property taxes in the next three weeks.

Madurai Corporation commissioner Aneesh Sekhar appeared before the division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice R Tharani as directed by the court on a petition filed by Sundara Raj.

The commissioner told the court that the corporation had to collect Rs 168.29 crore

property tax

arrears.

The court said the corporation should issue notice in one week to the owners of commercial buildings, who have not paid property tax so far, asking them to pay the arrears within two weeks of the receipt of the notice. If they failed to do so, the corporation should seal the premises, the court said.

The court said notices should be issued to owners of residential buildings asking them to pay the arrears in four weeks, the court said.