The Revenue Department has ordered prompt collection of land tax in all eligible cases and periodic inspection of the tax records by officials at the district level to ensure that land owners are not put to difficulties.
In a circular issued on instructions from Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan on Saturday, the Land Revenue Commissioner said that tax should be collected in all cases other than land exempted under Section 2 of the Kerala Land Tax Act of 1961 and the Kerala Land Conservancy Act of 1957 without considering the category of land in question.
Tax should be collected on the very same day a person approaches the village office if there were no legal obstacles. If the tax cannot be collected on the day, it should be collected the next day and receipt given to the land owner.
Reason in writing
If there was some reason for not collecting the tax, the person should be informed in writing. The village officer should report the matter to the tahsildar and the latter should take follow-up action and inform the land owners about it.
Complaint boxes should be installed in all village offices and complaints received should be examined every 15th day. Deputy Collectors and RDOs should conduct surprise check of taluk and village offices under their jurisdiction and submit reports to the District Collectors.
Deputy Collector (LR) should review all complaints relating to land tax collection every month and submit reports to District Collectors. The Collectors should pass on these reports to the Land Revenue Commissioner before 10th of every month. No person should be required to visit village offices more than twice. Failure to comply with the directives contained in the circular would invite disciplinary action against the officers.
