Chennai, Oct 14 (UNI) The Madras High Court on Wednesday
dismissed as withdrawn, a writ petition filed by popular actor
Rajinikanth challenging the Rs 6.50 lakh demand for property
tax levied by the Greater Chennai Corporation for his marriage
hall in the city.
After Justice Ms Anita Sumanth warned of imposing costs on
the petitioner for wasting the court's time and rushing to the
court without giving time for the officials to consider his tax
remission plea, the actor's counsel filed a memo agreeing to
withdraw the case.
The court accepted it and dismissed the case as withdrawn.
Ms Justice Sumanth said the actor must have pursued the matter
with the Corporation on the basis of a representation made by him
seeking ‘vacancy remission’ under Section 105 of the Chennai City
Municipal Corporation Act of 1919 and convinced them about his
eligibility.
In his plea, Rajini said he had been paying property tax regularly for
the Raghavendra marriage hall located at Kodambakkam area in the
city, with the last one paid on February 14.
Subsequently the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and the Central and
State governments imposed a total lockdown following which the
marriage hall remained vacant and was not rented to anyone since
March 24.
In such circumstances, the actor received an invoice from the Corporation
on September 10, asking him to pay Rs 6.50 lakh as property tax for the
six-month period from April to September.
Stating that he had cancelled all bookings for his marriage hall after March 24
and even refunded the advance money in accordance with the government
instructions, the actor said he was entitled to vacancy remission on property tax.
He also referred to Section 105 of the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act,
1919, which provides for remission of tax if the premises remained vacant for
over 30 days and insisted on extending the benefit to him.
Stating that he had also sent a notice to the Corporation on September 23 but
has not received any reply till date, Rajini prayed for a direction to the civic body
to dispose of the notice and not levy penalty or interest till then.
UNI GV 1622