Has BBMP chief gone mad, asks HC over tax on school

The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday expressed shock over the action of the BBMP commissioner and the assistant revenue officer (ARO) who rejected the application of a school seeking exemption from paying property tax.

During the hearing, Justice Vineet Kothari observed that the BBMP commissioner has mindlessly shut his eyes and signed orders without reading them and relying on the report of the ARO. “I'm pained. Has the commissioner gone mad? Why do they want to kill institutions?” the judge observed.

The judge directed BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad and Arakere ARO N Prakash to be present before the bench on Thursday and asked the BBMP counsel to inform the officials to be prepared to go to jail. Justice Kothari said that he wants them to clear the taxes of the school. Under Section 110 (i) (b) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, property tax is exempted for buildings and land used exclusively for educational purposes by recognised educational institutions.

The Sisters of Precious Blood, a registered organisation running Aradhana School in Arakere, IIM Post, Bannerghatta Road, moved the high court challenging the order passed by the BBMP commissioner on the basis of the report submitted by the ARO. The commissioner had refused to grant exemption from property tax to the school stating that they were running commercial activities like teaching students dance and karate at the school premises.

The advocate for the petitioner, R A Devanand informed the court that when BBMP officials conducted an inspection of the school, they saw huge flexes inviting students for dance and karate classes. He said assuming these classes are commercial activities, the request for exemption was rejected. The school sought exemption from paying property tax from 2008.

Palike order stayed

The high court has stayed the order of the BBMP cancelling the khata of Sri Rama Chaitanya Vardhini, a temple in Kacharakanahalli.

The temple committee had moved the court after the palike assistant commissioner (east) cancelled the khata on the grounds that the temple is located on a lakebed. Justice Vineet Kothari also ordered notice to the government, BBMP commissioner, assistant commissioner (east) and ARO.