In a major setback to industries in the Thane-Belapur belt and a boost to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, the Bombay High Court has ruled that the industries are liable to pay taxes to the civic body.
The Small Scale Entrepreneurs Association (SSEA) had approached the court, claiming the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) had no jurisdiction over them. The association asked for exemption from paying cess and property tax.
The civic body gets around Rs 48 crore in property tax and Rs 250 crore in cess from the industries. The SSEA that has a membership of more than 1,600 small and medium scale industries also organised several agitations including hunger strikes.
The NMMC conducted raids, seized bank accounts and filed around 500 criminal cases against the industrialists to recover the dues. SSEA had filed a writ petition in the HC that it lost. It then approached the Supreme Court, which sent the matter to the high court. The HC again ruled in favour of NMMC.
Following the ruling, SSEA president Kiran Churi said: “We are awaiting the judgement copy which we should get on Monday. We will study on what basis the court has given its judgement and then take a decision on our future course of action.” “We are not going to sit quiet. We had a strong case. We have the option of going to the Supreme Court,” Churi added.
{{/usCountry}}Following the ruling, SSEA president Kiran Churi said: “We are awaiting the judgement copy which we should get on Monday. We will study on what basis the court has given its judgement and then take a decision on our future course of action.” “We are not going to sit quiet. We had a strong case. We have the option of going to the Supreme Court,” Churi added.
{{/usCountry}}“We are pleased with the judgement and our stand has been vindicated repeatedly by the court,” said Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nahata.
The commissioner said a press conference would be called to give a detailed reaction.
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