Telangana High Court
Mr. Makhan Singh vs The State Of Telangana on 19 June, 2025
Author: B. Vijaysen Reddy
Bench: B. Vijaysen Reddy
THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE B. VIJAYSEN REDDY
WRIT PETITION No.17044 OF 2025
ORDER:(ORAL) Heard Mr. P. N. Dayakar, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Mr. G. Madhusudhan Reddy, learned standing counsel for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), appearing for respondent Nos.2 to 5.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the leased property of the petitioner i.e., "SHOOTERS", a Men's Wear Retail Outlet situated at H.No.3-4-419, Shop Nos.4 and 5, Varkantham Complex, Kachiguda X Roads, Hyderabad, was sealed by the GHMC for non-payment of property tax arrears.
3. Learned standing counsel for GHMC submitted that the petitioner has in fact admitted the liability of arrears of property tax and issued two (2) cheques (i) Cheque No.000219 dated 20.03.2025 for a sum of Rs.1,54,992/- and (ii) Cheque No.00218 dated 25.03.2025 for a sum of Rs.1,42,617/-. However, both the cheques were dishonored. Thus, the property of the petitioner was sealed. 2
4. Leaned counsel for the petitioner submitted that under coercion petitioner had to issue cheques as the GHMC authorities threatened to seal his property. Petitioner is ready to pay the current property tax.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner relied upon the judgment of this Court in Punjala Vinay Kumar v. The State of Telangana (W.P. No.684 of 2022 dated 22.04.2025), wherein, it was held that the GHMC authorities are entitled to recover the property tax arrears of three (3) years and beyond three (3) years, they have to institute a suit, subject to the law of limitation.
6. However, learned counsel for the petitioner fairly submitted that the petitioner is willing to pay fifty percent (50%) of the total admitted tax arrears, and arrears of three (3) years shall be paid forthwith.
7. In view of the judgment of this Court in Punjala Vinay Kumar's case (supra), and submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioner, the writ petition is allowed in part, directing the petitioner to pay 50% of the admitted tax amount of his property i.e., 3 "SHOOTERS", a Men's Wear Retail Outlet situated at H.No.3-4- 419, Shop Nos.4 and 5, Varkantham Complex, Kachiguda X Roads, Hyderabad, in two (2) installments. The First installment of three (3) years tax arrears shall be paid by the petitioner forthwith, and on such payment the GHMC authorities are directed to unseal the petitioner's property. The Second installment shall be paid by the petitioner within a period of four (4) weeks after the payment of the first installment. There shall be no order as to costs.
As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in the writ petition stand closed.
______________________ B. VIJAYSEN REDDY, J June 19, 2025.
Note: Issue CC by 20.06.2025 (BO) MS.