HC grants week's time to Palike to settle tax issue with school

The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday granted one week’s time to BBMP commissioner and the Assistant Revenue Officer (ARO) to settle property tax issue with regard to Aradhana School located at Arakere on Bannerghatta Road.

BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad and ARO, Arakere N Prakash were present before the court on Thursday. Justice Vineet Kothari had earlier taken exception to the order passed by the BBMP commissioner, based on a report by ARO who had rejected the application of the school seeking exemption from paying property tax. Under Section 110 (i) (b) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, building and land used exclusively for educational purposes by recognised educational institutions are exempted from property tax.

The Sisters of Precious Blood, a registered organisation running Aradhana School, moved the high court challenging the order passed by the BBMP commissioner. The commissioner had refused to exempt the school from paying property tax, stating that it is running commercial activities of teaching students dance and karate on the school premises.

The petitioner’s counsel had informed the court that when the BBMP officials conducted an inspection of the school, they saw huge flexes inviting students for dance and karate classes. Assuming that these classes are commercial activities, the request for tax exemption was rejected. The school sought directions to exempt them from paying property tax from 2008. The matter has been adjourned to July 19.