To mobilize additional revenue for improving the state’s financial health, Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday gave the go-ahead to increase mutation fee from Rs 300 to Rs 600 — expected to add nearly Rs 10 crore to the state exchequer.
At the same time, the Chief Minister has asked the Revenue Department to launch a special campaign for clearing all pending mutations in the interest of landowners.
He also directed the Revenue Department to consider charging mutation fee and expeditiously completing the documentation for mutation at the time of registration of sales to prevent unnecessary delays in this regard.
As some of the ministers pointed out that several mutations were pending for years, the Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner (Revenue) to look into the matter and take corrective measures. “The fees set by government for revenue collection is very low in today’s high currency environment and the mutation fees was last increase in October 2012, when it went up from Rs 150 to Rs 300.
With increasing expenditure burdening the state’s exchequer, the State Government has decided to increase the mutation fee after this long period of eight years,” said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
SAD DUBS THE MOVE AS “ANTI-PEOPLE”, DEMANDS WITHDRAWAL
Condemning the Congress Government for doubling the mutation fee on sale of land, SAD on Wednesday aid that such a decision should not have been taken during a time of pandemic when relief needed to be given to the people instead of burdening them with fresh taxes.
Terming the hike as an “anti-people step”, SAD’s senior leader and former Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia demanded that it is withdrawn immediately.Majithia also castigated the Government for being penny wise and pound foolish.
“The people of Punjab are being burdened with one tax after another. They are reeling under extreme high power charges as well as one of the highest State VAT and surcharge quotient on petrol and diesel.
The Government is refusing to give any relief to children who are at risk of being thrown out of private schools by depositing the fee to schools on behalf of the students.
