Rajinikanth gets Madras high court rap over tax remission plea

CHENNAI: In an embarrassment to actor Rajinikanth, the Madras high court has refused to entertain his plea against Rs 6.5lakh property tax demand for his marriage hall in Chennai during the lockdown period.
“Do you think that the court has no better things to do except directing the corporation authorities to dispose of your representation,” Justice Anita Sumanth told Rajinikanth’s counsel on Wednesday.
The judge also warned the actor of imposing a cost on him for having rushed to the court without giving adequate time for the authorities.“You made the representation to the Chennai Corporation on September 23 and rushed to the court within a week. Why do you want to rush to the court instead of approaching the authorities?” the court said.
When the court was about to dismiss the petition with cost, counsel for Rajinikanth pleaded to the court to permit him to withdraw the petition.
Later, allowing the withdrawal memo, the court dismissed the petition.
According to Rajinikanth, his marriage hall remained vacant since March 23 till now in view of Covid-19 lockdown imposed by the government. The corporation issued a property tax invoice demanding Rs 6.5 lakh as tax for the period from April to September 2020.
Pointing out that the tax demand had been made though Section 105 of the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act provided for remission from tax for properties that remained vacant or unlet, Rajinikanth had sought tax remission.