BENGALURU: Taking serious exception to the revenue authorities issuing notice to Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) for payment of property tax in contrary to the court’s order, the High Court on Tuesday directed the Principal Secretary of Panchayat Raj Department and other officials to be present on December 12, the next date of hearing.
The court also issued contempt notice to the Panchayat Development Officer attached to Anneshwara Gram Panchayat, Devanahalli taluk, for issuing the letter dated October 25 to BIAL for payment of tax. He was asked to file his reply in the form of an affidavit within two weeks. Justice Vineet Kothari also expressed displeasure as the Principal Secretary was not present in the court on Tuesday.
“This reflects utterly irresponsible behaviour on the part of the senior officials. All these officials are directed to remain present in this court on the next date of hearing,” the judge said.
BIAL’s counsel Uday Holla said despite an interim order passed on October 11, directing the officials not to take any action against BIAL, PDO issued a letter to BIAL on October 25. BIAL had challenged the order issued by the Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat, Bengaluru Rural District, which raised the property tax from `7 crore to `80 crore.