CHENNAI: The Commissioner of Corporation of Coimbatore has been directed by the Madras High Court to consider a representation that opposed the levy and collection of various taxes from the people.
Justice S Vaidyanathan gave the directive on November 30, while disposing of a writ petition from M Krishnaswamy of Maniyakaranpalayam. Petitioner prayed for a directive to the civic body chief to consider his representation dated October 30 last.
According to senior counsel K Doraisami, the Corporation, in the absence of democratically elected members, had not initiated any new beneficial project for the people. On the contrary, it had imposed new taxes without there being a statute/legislation to that effect, arbitrarily. It had levied 0.1 per cent on the property value for mutation of names in the records, levied tax on garbage, directed existing consumers to pay revised water deposit and imposed hefty taxes on additional constructions.
In most cases, the Corporation had not called for objections from the public by publishing the resolutions in the local dailies. People were aware of the imposition of such taxes only at the time of the demand.
Petitioner had sent several representations, requesting the authorities not to collect the taxes. As there was no response, the present writ petition was filed, counsel said.