How can the government levy non-agricultural (NA) tax on properties in Navi Mumbai, which have come up on leasehold land taken from CIDCO? However, the state government has issued a demand notice for NA Tax to the housing societies in Navi Mumbai, with an intimation of coercive steps in case of non-payment, violating the provisions of Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966.

The Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (MLRC), 1966, clearly states that the NA tax cannot be levied on properties that are leased to 'government lessees'. While almost the entirety of Navi Mumbai is built on leasehold land, there was clearly no application of mind while issuing NA tax bills to over 50-plus housing societies, who have now approached the Navi Mumbai Cooperative Housing Federation seeking support.  The federation, with no alternate or more efficacious remedy, filed public interest litigation before the Bombay High Court, which mid-day had highlighted in an article on March 24.