Dishonoured Cheques: AMC appoints lawyer to probe against property-holders for issuing cheques of Rs 3.24 cr

Aurangabad, Dec 7:

The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has geared up to take action in a legal way against 303 property-holders, for issuing cheques of Rs 3.24 crore, against payment of their property tax, which got dishonoured by their respective banks.

The deputy commissioner Aparna Thete, who is also holding the additional responsibility as assessor and collector of tax (ACT), said the AMC had appointed Adv K D Pande to look into this default matter. The ward offices will be sending the default cheques directly to the lawyer. Accordingly, the lawyer will initiate action against the property-holders, who had dared to issue cheques, despite knowing the fact that there was no money in their bank accounts.

There are lakhs of properties on AMC record and crores of rupees are outstanding upon them in the form of property tax and water tax. Notably, the civic body''s collection of taxes had been badly affected due to Covid-19 pandemic situation in the city. Now, the situation is restoring to normalcy, as a result, the AMC has focussed on recovery of taxes.

Thete said, the property-holders issued 303 cheques of valuing Rs 3.24 crore during last month. As per the rule, if the cheque gets dishonoured, the action has to be taken within three months. However, it takes time to seek a report on the dishonoured cheques. Hence, the lawyer is appointed to look after the default matter."

Meanwhile, to curb the rise in illegal mobile towers in the city. The civic administration has authorised the ward officers (or zonal officers) to take action against the illegal mobile towers in their jurisdiction. As per AMC record, there are 116 legal and 582 illegal towers in the city. Previously, the AMC had granted the authority to take action against illegal mobile towers to the designated officers of the anti-encroachment section.