Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (North) has slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on Chennai Corporation for committing deficiency in service with regard to maintenance of the property records of a resident.
In the petition, M. Krishnan of Kozhikadai Market, Broadway, submitted that he owns a property on Amman Koil Street, Broadway. He purchased it from N.K. Balaraman in 1992. This was registered before the Sub-Registrar Office, Sowcarpet. Since then, he has been in possession of the property.
Without seeing the records, the Revenue Officer, Corporation of Chennai, issued bills in the name of Sriramulu. He sent representation to the officials requesting to make necessary changes in the records several times. However, the Revenue section neither sent any reply to him nor rectified the mistake in the property tax bill.
In the petition, he sought direction to the revenue officer to pay compensation for causing him mental agony and make a suitable alteration in assessment record. In his reply, the Revenue Officer submitted that originally the land belongs to the Sri Egavalli Amman Koil.
The Corporation of Chennai assessed property tax only for the superstructure, which now also stands in the name of Sriramalu in the revenue records.
However, petitioner purchased the property from Balaraman and applied for amendment of ownership. He had not produced NOC from temple authorities. Hence the Corporation was unable to take further action on the application. As the land owned and possessed by the HR & CE, the petitioner had not produced any records till date.
The bench comprising president K. Jayabalan and member T. Kalaiyarasi said Krishnan's name was incorporated in water and sewerage tax cum charges card in respect of the property purchased by him. He also paid property tax in his name as assessed as his property.
These documents prove that the Krishnan was the owner of the property.
Holding the Revenue Officer, for committing deficiency in service, the bench directed the revenue officer to pay a compensation of Rs 10000 and ordered to maintain the property assessment record in the name of M. Krishnan.
