Ulhasnagar, July 13: Newlyweds in Ulhasnagar have been stumped by a new rule for getting official recognition for their union: the civic body there has made submission of property tax receipts mandatory for registration of marriages.
The Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC), often criticised for failing to prevent illegal constructions, came up with the bizarre rule sometime back, but implemented it only recently, a source said.
Notices specifying the directive have been put up in ward offices in the township. Residents say without property tax receipts, UMC authorities don’t even accept forms of couples; even if all other documents are in order.
“After downloading the form from UMC’s website, I visited a ward office to get my marriage registered. I was shocked when I read the notice. I spoke to officials, who told me clearly that they will not accept my form if I don’t produce property tax slips,” said Abhishek Singh. “It’s a ridiculous rule. I fail to understand the link between marriage certificates and tax receipts.”
Singh, who works with the marketing division of a company, stays in quarters allotted to his father by the latter’s company. “I don’t have any property tax documents as I don’t own a house here. Besides, obtaining tax proof for my father’s quarters will be a lengthy process,” he said. Singh has been running around to get his marriage certificate for days now.
Baffling and bizarre
Shekhar Kumbhar, a self-employed professional, is also facing difficulty in getting his marriage certificate. In his case, authorities have demanded not only his property tax receipts, but also those of witnesses to his marriage.
“When they refused to accept my form, I produced necessary tax proof. Now, they want documents of three witnesses as well. The problem is two of the witnesses don’t own a house in Ulhasnagar. My pleas to officials have gone unheard,” he said.
Deepak Mishra, a local lawyer, who encountered a similar problem, said that the UMC’s new rule was “bad in law”. “There is no provision in the Bombay Provincial Municipal Act (by which UMC is governed) to produce such receipts for obtaining marriage certificates. According to the Act, a couple needs to produce documents confirming their identities and proof of marriage,” Mishra said. “This new rule is nothing but an arm-twisting tactic. Has the civic body thought about people who don’t own a house here or stay on rent?”
Sources in the civic body claimed that the rule was introduced through the back door to ensure that people cleared their property tax dues. “The logic is that if we hold back marriage certificates, residents will be left with no choice, but to pay up. Ever since the rule has been implemented, the number of certificates issued every month has gone down significantly,” a senior official, who didn’t want to be named, said.
When Mumbai Mirror contacted UMC commissioner Ashok Rankhamb, he admitted that the rule was introduced to make sure people pay the said tax on time. “There is no provision in the law for such a rule. Now that this anomaly has been brought to my notice, I will get it (the rule) cancelled,” he said.
–Agencies