The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday announced that all the shops and establishments failing to display signboards written in Marathi or Devanagari script will have to pay double property tax. The new tax regime will be implemented from May 1 this year, the civic body said.
In a release, the BMC also said that it would cancel the license of all the illuminated boards (glow signs) that do not exhibit lettering in the Marathi language or the Devanagari script.
The move is in alignment with the Supreme Court’s directive on shops and establishments. The BMC would take action for the violation of SC’s Rule 35 and Section 36 C of Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2018 and Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Act 2022, it said.
“The Supreme Court had given two months for displaying Marathi language or Devanagari script on signboards in shops and establishments before the November 23, 2023, deadline. Thereafter, the civic body launched a drive to check for compliance from November 28, 2023,” the release further stated.
A total of 87,047 shops and establishments were scrutinised between November 28, 2023, and March 31 this year, during which 84,007 of these, or 96.50 per cent, were found to have put up Marathi signboards, the release added.
The BMC release says that the actions are being taken as the shop owners failed to comply with the rules despite repeated concessions.
The decision to cancel the license over violation was taken after recently-appointed BMC commissioner-cum-administrator Bhushan Gagrani chaired a review meeting on the issue, the release
Shops and establishments whose licence will be cancelled will have to pay between Rs 25,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh to get it renewed. Property tax to the tune of Rs 3,196 crore has been collected by BMC during 2023-24.
“The BMC has issued legal notices to 3,040 shops and establishments for not displaying sign boards in Marathi language or Devanagari script. Some cases, in which notices have been issued, are being heard in court, while others appear for hearing before the Deputy Commissioner (Special) for administrative method of settling the case as per the provision in the Act,” it said.
A total of 343 cases were heard by the corporation and a fine of Rs 32 lakh was imposed, which this figure was Rs 13.94 lakh for 177 cases heard in court.
(With PTI inputs)
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