Patna: Urban development and housing minister Nitin Nabin on Friday assured business communities, the secretary of the Indian Medical Association (Darbhanga) and representatives of the Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga municipal corporations that the three-fold increase in commercial holding tax rates introduced in 2023 would be “rationalized” and “slashed” soon. Speaking at a meeting held to address concerns over the tax hike, which attendees termed “impractical” and an “excessive burden”, the minister acknowledged the need for revision. DMC councillor Navin Sinha, a key opponent of the Sept 26, 2023 hike, called the increase “illogical and against established rules”. He said, “The govt implemented the rules without publishing them in any newspaper, which is a must as per regulations. Objections from the public should have been solicited through advertisements, but instead, this dictatorial order was passed and enforced without following due process.” The minister admitted that the tax rates were too high and required revision. “Even the department feels the rates are unreasonable. We have assured attendees that we will review and reconsider the decision implemented during Tejashwi Yadav’s tenure in 2023,” he said. However, the minister denied that the meeting was held on the Patna high court’s directive. “It was entirely our decision. We had been planning this for over a month. The court did not direct us to hold this meeting. In fact, when the appellants approached the High Court, they were advised to first take up the issue with the relevant boards and corporations,” he said. Patna: Urban development and housing minister Nitin Nabin on Friday assured business communities, the secretary of the Indian Medical Association (Darbhanga) and representatives of the Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga municipal corporations that the three-fold increase in commercial holding tax rates introduced in 2023 would be “rationalized” and “slashed” soon. Speaking at a meeting held to address concerns over the tax hike, which attendees termed “impractical” and an “excessive burden”, the minister acknowledged the need for revision. DMC councillor Navin Sinha, a key opponent of the Sept 26, 2023 hike, called the increase “illogical and against established rules”. He said, “The govt implemented the rules without publishing them in any newspaper, which is a must as per regulations. Objections from the public should have been solicited through advertisements, but instead, this dictatorial order was passed and enforced without following due process.” The minister admitted that the tax rates were too high and required revision. “Even the department feels the rates are unreasonable. We have assured attendees that we will review and reconsider the decision implemented during Tejashwi Yadav’s tenure in 2023,” he said. However, the minister denied that the meeting was held on the Patna high court’s directive. “It was entirely our decision. We had been planning this for over a month. The court did not direct us to hold this meeting. In fact, when the appellants approached the High Court, they were advised to first take up the issue with the relevant boards and corporations,” he said.
