The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has taken a strict stance against persistent tax defaulters by issuing final notices to 100 holding taxpayers who have accumulated outstanding dues spanning nearly a decade. The civic body has warned that essential services will be suspended if payments are not cleared within the seven-day deadline.
Seven-Day Ultimatum for Tax Defaulters
According to municipal officials, the defaulters have failed to clear property tax dues dating back to the 2016-17 financial year and extending through the fourth quarter of 2025-26. Deputy Municipal Commissioner Gautam Prasad Sahu confirmed that repeated notices sent to these holdings have been largely ignored, prompting the corporation to take decisive action.
The RMC's property tax collection for the 2025-26 fiscal year currently stands at Rs 64.86 crore, significantly below the annual target of Rs 98 crore. This substantial revenue gap has compelled the municipal body to intensify its recovery efforts, with particular focus on large defaulters who collectively owe substantial amounts.
Legal Powers and Consequences
Gautam Prasad Sahu emphasized that the corporation is fully prepared to invoke provisions of the Jharkhand Municipal Act if the dues remain unpaid after the seven-day window. "Under Section 184 of the Municipal Act and related provisions, RMC is empowered to suspend services like door-to-door waste collection and water supply", he stated during an announcement on Tuesday.
The municipal authority has clarified that the suspension of civic services is not an empty threat but a legally sanctioned measure that will be implemented systematically against all defaulters who fail to comply with the final notice. This action forms part of a broader revenue recovery and trade-license enforcement drive currently underway across the city.
Parallel Crackdown on Trade License Violations
Simultaneously with the tax recovery effort, RMC has initiated action against commercial establishments operating without mandatory trade licenses. Officials highlighted that running any residential or commercial establishment without a proper license constitutes a punishable violation under the Jharkhand Municipal Act, 2011 and Municipal Trade Licence Rules, 2017.
Establishments that have ignored three consecutive notices now face immediate sealing of their premises. The municipal corporation has confirmed that legal action, including penalties, license fee recovery, and potential closure, is fully permitted under the existing municipal regulations.
RMC teams have received directives to complete verification processes in all municipal wards and submit detailed action-taken reports within the current week. This comprehensive enforcement drive represents the corporation's determined effort to improve compliance and boost municipal revenue streams essential for maintaining urban infrastructure and services.
