SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has issued notices to the Central government and J&K government in a plea challenging the constitutionality of imposition of property tax in the Union Territory.
The HC issued notices on a petition filed by Hanan Moumin Feroz Khan in J&K High Court. The next date of the hearing is July 24. In March this year, the Lt Governor administration had announced to impose property tax in J&K from April 1. However, after the resentment from locals, civil society members, traders and politicians, the government has not announced its implementation yet.
The petitioner has challenged imposition of property tax in J&K saying the power to amend and or repeal any existing law is a policy decision which, in a democratic setup, is only exercised through a body of elected representatives, therefore, the vesting of powers to amend and or repeal laws with the executive authorities is a bizarre precedence of usurping the power, authority and jurisdiction of legislative assembly of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.