IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PIUS C.KURIAKOSE FRIDAY, THE 14TH MARCH 2008 / 24TH PHALGUNA 1929 WP(C).No. 8673 of 2008(G) ------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ K.P. CHANDRANGADAN, S/O.ACHUTHA MARAR AGED 65 YEARS, PENSIONER, RESIDING AT MADAYL AMSOM, DESOM OF KANNUR TALUK KANNUR DISTRICT (P.O), PARANGADI. BY ADV. SRI.S.SUJIN SRI.MAHESH V RAMAKRISHNAN RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA - REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, LOCAL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. MADAYL GRAMA PANCHAYATH - REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, P.O.PAZHARANGADI R.S. 3. THE STANDING COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE MADAYI GRAMA PANCHAYATH - REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN (P.O) PAZHARANGADI R.S. BY G.P. SRI.K.J.MUHAMMED ANZAR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 14/03/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: PIUS C. KURIAKOSE, J. ---------------------------------- W.P.(C) NO. 8673 of 2008 ---------------------------------- Dated this the 14th day of March , 2008 JUDGMENT The petitioner is aggrieved by Ext.P3 assessment order and Ext.P4 demand bill issued on the basis of Ext.P2. Ext.P3 pertains to the revised assessment of property tax for the building having Door No. 38A in Division No. VI belonging to the petitioner. As per the original assessment, the tax payable was Rs.35/- only, which is now seen enhanced to Rs.3,466/-. According to the petitioner, it is without any reason that this steep enhancement has been made even as assessment in relation to the adjoining rooms are kept at the original rates. 2. I do not propose to go into the merits of the matter. The petitioner has preferred Ext.P5 appeal before the Standing Committee for Finance against the assessment order. I dispose of this writ petition directing the third respondent to consider Ext.P5 in the light of Ext.P7 Government Order and any other WPC No.8673/2008 2 relevant materials after hearing the petitioner and take a correct decision on Ext.P5. Decision, as directed above, shall be taken by the third respondent at the earliest and at any rate within six weeks of receiving a copy of this judgment. Considering the above direction, there will be a further direction to the Panchayat not to enforce Ext.P4 Demand Bill by initiating coercive action against the petitioner on condition that the petitioner shall remit towards property tax at the rate of Rs.140/- (Rupees One Hundred Fourty) per year without prejudice to his contention in the appeal before the Standing Committee. PIUS C. KURIAKOSE, JUDGE. dpk