Advocate opposes public auction of properties in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Advocate KV Dhananjay on Thursday wrote to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, highlighting discrepancies in the proposed auction of 7,020 properties by five municipal corporations over property tax defaults.

He pointed out that the GBA Act (Section 107) exempts educational institutions from property tax, yet the auction list includes such properties. Section 107 of the Karnataka Education Act also prohibits auctioning these properties without written clearance from the Education Department.

Dhananjay noted the list includes central government properties, which are exempt from state taxation under Article 285 of the Constitution. "This is not a provision that rewards creative interpretation," he said.

He questioned why one arm of the state government is auctioning property belonging to another, which he said also violates Article 300A of the Constitution.

Regarding private properties, Dhananjay said revenue officers are either uncooperative or unapproachable.