HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN WRIT PETITION No.7186 of 2010 30th March 2010 Between: M.Govind Reddy … PETITIONER(S) and The Commissioner & Special Officer, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Hyderabad and others … RESPONDENT(S) HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN WRIT PETITION No.7186 of 2010 ORDER: Heard Sri M.Govind Reddy, party-in-person, and Smt Kalpana Ekbote, learned Standing Counsel, appearing for the respondent-Corporation. At their request the Writ Petition is being disposed of at the stage of admission. The petitioner, a practicing advocate of this Court, is the owner of a house of 3255.65 sq. feet, 195 sq. yards, bearing no.8-2- 686/7/7/2/3, Prajay Meadows, Road No.12, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. A demand notice was issued calling upon the petitioner to pay property tax of Rs.50,736/- which includes arrears for the previous year, interest and penalty. Petitioner would contend that the competent authority did not take into account the deductions, to which he was eligible, as was prescribed under Section 212 of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as – ‘the Act’). According to the petitioner the method of assessment applicable to buildings in Category-A had been extended to the petitioner’s building which was in Category-C. Smt. Kalpana Ekbote, learned Standing Counsel for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, would submit that the petitioner has an effective alternative remedy of filing a complaint before the Commissioner under Section 221 of the Act against the manner in which the property tax was assessed. I consider it appropriate, therefore, to dispose of the Writ Petition permitting the petitioner to submit a representation/ complaint before the first respondent, marking a copy to the second respondent, within one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. In case such an application is filed within the time stipulated hereinabove, the first respondent shall consider the application in accordance with law, pass orders thereupon and communicate the same to the petitioner. Till final orders are passed on the representation/ complaint submitted by the petitioner, the respondents shall not take coercive steps for recovery of the tax due. The Writ Petition is, accordingly, disposed of. However, in the circumstances, without costs. _____________________________ RAMESH RANGANATHAN,J 30th March 2010 CVRK/asp