In Ghaziabad (UP), a recent decision by the municipal corporation to raise property taxes under a new system has sparked widespread public opposition. Just days after the board of the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation voted against the tax hike, the civic agency has urged residents to pay their property tax dues based on the new rates. However, confusion and frustration among the public continue to grow.
The property tax hike was based on a revised structure that, according to many residents, has caused their tax bills to rise by nearly three to five times. This sharp increase has led to strong protests. Although corporation officials claim the rise is only around 1.5 to 1.75%, residents say the reality is much more burdensome.
The board meeting that rejected the tax hike was held on June 30. It was called by Mayor Sunita Dayal, who brought the proposal to the board. However, the majority of councillors, supported by local political leaders, including Ghaziabad MP Atul Garg and three MLAs, voted against the increase.
Colonel TP Tyagi (Retired), the chairman of the Federation of Apartment Owners' Associations, criticized the civic body’s move. He stated that the officials are ignoring the board’s decision and creating confusion among residents. He added that such a move could lead to unrest if the officials do not respect the decision made by elected representatives.
Corporation officials maintain that they are only implementing a survey-based approach to assess the actual tax. Sanjeev Sinha, the chief tax assessment officer of the corporation, said that the decision to continue with the hike was taken before the board’s vote, and the agency is simply following procedures.
Currently, Ghaziabad has about 452,000 registered properties and an estimated 125,000 more that have not yet been assessed. The existing tax structure includes house tax (10%), sewage/drainage tax (4%), and water tax (10%). Under the new structure, residents claim they are being unfairly charged for services without proper justification or transparency.
Local residents have now begun organizing themselves to protest this increase. Sanjay Singh, a resident of Sun City in Indirapuram, said that asking people to pay the hiked tax even after the board’s rejection would lead to strong demonstrations. He emphasized the need for the administration to follow legal and democratic norms.
Adding to the growing legal pressure, three former councillors, including Himanshu Mittal, have already filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Allahabad High Court challenging the tax hike. Mittal argued that the delay in releasing the minutes of the board meeting, where the hike was rejected, is a deliberate attempt to mislead people and bypass proper governance.
The matter is now scheduled to be heard in the High Court on July 29, and residents are hoping for a resolution that favors fairness and transparency.
In the meantime, people have been advised to hold off on paying the hiked tax until the final judgment is delivered. They are also being encouraged to self-assess their tax liabilities based on previous rates.
The Ghaziabad property tax controversy highlights a larger issue of how civic decisions impact citizens and the importance of clear communication and respect for democratic processes.
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