ILLEGAL EXACTIONS OF HOLDING TAX

ILLEGAL EXACTIONS OF HOLDING TAX

3-APRIL-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------The Shahpur Nagar Panchayat (Town Council) in the district has become the center of attention these days; however, this discussion does not revolve around developmental works, but rather concerns alleged illegal extortion being carried out in the name of collecting holding tax. Local residents allege that Nagar Panchayat employees are extorting money from ordinary citizens by adopting arbitrary rules and employing tactics of intimidation and coercion. This situation has created an atmosphere of confusion and outrage throughout the entire municipal area.

Many residents of the town state that whenever they question the tax collection process, they are cited complex rules that are utterly incomprehensible. The conduct of the employees is highly irresponsible, and they are coercing people into making payments by instilling the fear of heavy fines.

The situation appears even more grave when viewed in the context of past administrative events. It is pertinent to note that the then Executive Officer, Nishat Alam, had already been suspended by the department due to similar irregularities and the imposition of excessive fines regarding building plan taxes. Despite this, this unscrupulous practice continues unabated within the Shahpur Nagar Panchayat. Babita Devi, the Councilor for Ward No. 09, corroborated these allegations, stating that no clear records regarding past holding tax collections are available at the municipal office.

Adopting a firm stance on the matter, the Vice-Chairperson of the Nagar Panchayat, Jhuniya Devi, clarified that such arbitrary conduct by the municipal employees is unacceptable at any level. She asserted that no one has the authority to harass the public. The Vice-Chairperson further stated that she would lodge a formal complaint against these employees with the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development and Housing Department and demand a fair and impartial inquiry into the matter.

On the other hand, the general public is deeply aggrieved by the mysterious silence maintained by the other councilors throughout this entire episode. Local residents—particularly Bidyanand Pandey (District Vice President of LJP-R) from Ward No. 05—have expressed a sharp reaction to this apathy shown by the councilors. He asserts that they have lost the trust of the general public; those very representatives who were elected to safeguard the interests of the people have today become mere spectators. As a result of this ‘silence,’ the people have completely lost faith in them.