J&K Property Tax: Government bows to pressure, defers rollout
Property Tax Imposition in Jammu and Kashmir Put on Hold Amidst Opposition Pressure
In response to mounting pressure from both opposition parties and members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the administration of Jammu and Kashmir has decided to delay the implementation of a property tax in the Union Territory. This decision is being viewed as a response to the upcoming urban local bodies’ (ULB) elections expected later this year and the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for the following year. The property tax, which was initially set to take effect on September 30, has now been postponed indefinitely.
The order to halt the property tax imposition was issued by the Principal Secretary to the Housing and Urban Development Department. Notably, the order does not specify a new date for when the tax will eventually be enforced.
Earlier this year, in February, the government had issued two separate notifications outlining plans to levy property tax in the urban areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
The decision to impose property tax had faced staunch opposition from nearly all major political parties in the region, including the National Conference, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Congress. The delay in implementation is seen as a response to these widespread protests and objections.
