"Conduct proper elections if you want us to pay house tax" - that is the message to the Haryana government from those who own properties in municipal corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) areas

In a meeting held on Saturday, resident representatives, traders and villagers who own properties in MCG areas, have decided to boycott the house tax assessment done by the Haryana government.

They want the government to conduct elections for municipal body, before levying any tax on the citizens.

At a meeting held on Saturday, the joint forum association of RWAs (JAFRA) decided to hold demonstrations asking the government to withdraw the house tax notices.

The association alleges that the MCG did not have elections since its inception in 2008.

“According to the provisions of Haryana Municipal Act 1994, house owners have a right to file objection with the MCG committee, comprising of its commissioner and two elected representatives of the community. But the latter do not exist as there were no municipal elections.” Hindustan Times quoted JAFRA chairman Col (Retd.) Ratan Singh, as saying.

According to the news report, JAFRA members will soon meet Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to discuss the issue. “DLF City residents were already paying maintenance charges to DLF for the house maintenance and the demand for house tax by the MCG was unjustified, as it would an added burden on the residents," said Madan Yadav, president, DLF Qutub Enclave RWA.