Property Mutation Complaint in Manimajra: File Allegedly Pending for 55 Months

Property Mutation Complaint in Manimajra: File Allegedly Pending for 55 Months

Allegations of Bribe Being Sought Through Development Charges; Property Tax Arrears Raised Despite NOC

Chandigarh 19 August ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : A family in Manimajra has alleged that its application for mutation and correction of property records has remained pending with the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation for nearly four years and seven months. The complainant, Ashok Kumar Chadha, has accused civic officials of repeatedly seeking fresh documents and raising new objections, causing him mental and financial hardship. Chadha has submitted complaints to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Chief Secretary, Chandigarh Administration, seeking an inquiry into the matter and action against officials found responsible. According to the complaint, the properties in question include shops numbered 220 to 231 on Old Ropar Road and house number 213/1 in Darshni Bagh, Manimajra. After the death of his father, late Sat Dev Chadha, the family initiated the process in 2021 to have the names of the legal heirs entered in the revenue and municipal records.

Process started in 2021, mutation still pending

The complainant said the first application was initiated on October 27, 2021. Subsequently, reports from the Patwari and Tehsildar, physical demarcation of the property, site plans, revenue records and other documents were sought by the Municipal Corporation at different stages. According to Chadha, the documents were submitted from time to time as required. In July 2023, he was asked to arrange a DGPS machine for demarcation. After the machine was made available, the Tehsildar’s office reportedly sent the demarcation report, revenue records and DGPS report to the Municipal Corporation in October 2023. Despite this, the complainant alleges that the mutation process did not move forward.

Fresh documents and objections allegedly sought repeatedly

Chadha has alleged that even during 2024, he was repeatedly asked to submit additional documents, site plans and other papers. At a meeting in July 2024, a fresh site plan was reportedly demanded, which he subsequently submitted. The complaint also raises questions regarding house tax and development charges. The complainant claims that he repeatedly informed the Municipal Corporation in writing that there were no outstanding taxes on the properties. He further claims that the Corporation does not possess house-tax records for the period from 1977 to 1994. The complaint refers to information obtained through the RTI Act, allegedly confirming that such records were not available with the civic body. The complainant has also alleged that then Joint Commissioner Vasundhara Jane did not clear the file during her tenure from 2024 to 2025, although she reportedly issued a public notice before leaving.

₹4.58 lakh tax demand questioned

According to the complaint, on October 24, 2025, the Municipal Corporation demanded payment of approximately ₹4.58 lakh in property tax. Chadha objected to the demand in writing, claiming that it was incorrect. He has further referred to the report of a committee constituted subsequently, claiming that no record of outstanding tax on the concerned property was found and that there was no basis for the demand. According to the complaint, the committee submitted its report on March 16, 2026.

Serious allegations of money being demanded

The most serious allegations in the complaint relate to claims that certain Municipal Corporation officials allegedly sought money to move the file forward. Chadha claims that after he complained against officials in October 2025, he was allegedly told that the file would not move ahead without payment. The complaint also makes serious allegations against Joint Commissioner Dr. Inderjit Singh. Chadha alleges that during meetings, references were allegedly made to the high value of the property and to spending money, with the implication that the file would not be cleared without payment. These allegations have been made by the complainant and have not been independently established. No independent response from the concerned officials is available in the complaint.

File allegedly pending for more than four years

The complainant claims that from 2021 until May 2026, he repeatedly visited Municipal Corporation offices. Several rounds of demarcation were allegedly carried out, committees were constituted, documents were sought again and reports were obtained from different officials. Despite these steps, he alleges that the names of the legal heirs have still not been entered in the municipal property records. Chadha says the prolonged delay has caused financial losses and that, despite being a senior citizen, he has been forced to make repeated visits to government offices.

Probe sought from PMO and Chief Secretary

In his complaint, Chadha has sought entry of the legal heirs’ names in the Municipal Corporation records for the shops and house. He has also sought an inquiry into the delay between October 27, 2021 and May 2026, the repeated objections and the alleged conduct of officials, besides legal action against those found responsible. The complaint raises questions over why the mutation process allegedly remained pending for such a long period if all required documents and demarcation reports were already available on record. It also questions the basis of the ₹4.58 lakh tax demand if the subsequent departmental inquiry reportedly found no record supporting outstanding dues. The response of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and the officials concerned to these allegations is awaited.