A house belonging to the late J. Jayalalithaa has been sealed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) due to unpaid property tax dues amounting to ₹82.91 lakh. These dues have been accumulating since 2017, when the property tax first became due.
The total property tax dues initially reached ₹1.6 crore before waivers were applied. Following the waivers, the amount payable was reduced to approximately ₹83 lakh. The property, categorized as ‘Commercial’, has been rented by businessman Vijay Mallya, yet it remains registered under Jayalalithaa’s name in GHMC records.
In May 2020, the Madras High Court declared Jayalalithaa’s nephew and niece as her legal heirs, as she passed away without a will. Despite this legal recognition, the heirs have not made any payments towards the outstanding property tax dues, prompting the GHMC to issue a ‘Red Notice’ for non-payment.
The outstanding dues currently stand at ₹82.91 lakh after rebates were applied under the One-Time Settlement scheme, which offers a significant 90% waiver on accumulated interest for property tax arrears. However, no payments have been made despite repeated efforts by the GHMC to recover the dues.
The property will remain under the custody of the GHMC until the outstanding dues are cleared, highlighting the ongoing challenges related to property tax compliance in Hyderabad. Observers note that the situation underscores the complexities of property ownership and tax obligations, particularly in cases involving deceased individuals.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen whether the legal heirs will take action to settle the outstanding property tax dues or if further legal proceedings will ensue. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any potential plans from the heirs to address the tax liabilities.
