IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN FRIDAY, THE 9TH APRIL 2010 / 19TH CHAITHRA 1932 WP(C).No. 4489 of 2007(H) -------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ------------------------ BEENA RAJESH, AGED 35, W/O.LATE RAJESH, ALUNKAL HOUSE, PANAMPALAM, ARPOOKARA EAST P.O. KOTTAYAM. BY ADV. SRI.JOHN JOSEPH VETTIKAD, SRI.SABU GEORGE. RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------- 1. ARPOOKARA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, VILLONNI P.O. ARPOOKKARA, KOTTAYAM, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY. 2. SALIMKUMAR, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, THALASSERYPARAMBIL HOUSE (THEJUS), MANNANAM P.O., KOTTAYAM. (SECRETARY, ARPOOKKARA GRAMA PANCHAYATH). 3. MATHEW M. PADAPPAN, AGED ABOUT 45, (FORMER CHAIRMAN OF STANDING COMMITTEE AND THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF ARPPOOKARA GRAMA PANCHAYATH), PERUMPADAPPIL HOUSE, VILLOONNI PO, KOTTAYAM. 4. THE DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATHS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. R1 TO R3 BY ADV. SRI.M.V.BOSE. R4 BY GOVT. PLEADER SMT.SMITHA SUKUMAR. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09/04/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: rs. THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN, J. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = W.P.(C).No.4489 of 2007-H = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Dated this the 9th day of April, 2010. Judgment The petitioner's husband Rajesh put up a construction. Exts.P1 and P2 show that the buildings were assessed to property tax for the year 2004-05. This was in June-July, 2004. However, in December 2004, the impugned revision has been made catapulting the annual property tax by more than 10 times. For one thing, the revision could not have been in excess of 25%. Secondly and more importantly, there could not have been a revision except quinquennial, in terms of the statute. Under such circumstances, the impugned revision and demand on such basis is unsustainable being contrary to law. The same is accordingly quashed. The writ petition is hence allowed to that extent. No costs. THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN, JUDGE. Sha/1704