Civic authorities will serve notice on the Hindu god, asking him to pay the dues or face action, in the third such case in Bihar, M I Khan reports.
There seems to be no end to troubles for Lord Hanuman in Bihar. Two months after receiving an ‘eviction notice’ in Begusarai district and a summons from Rohtas sub-divisional magistrate’s court, both in two different cases, Lord Hanuman has now been declared a ‘property tax defaulter’ by the civic administration of Ara town.
According to officials of the Ara municipal corporation, there are three properties in the name of Lord Hanuman at Badi Mathiae area, taxes on which haven’t been paid. Concerned officials have informed the temple twice to pay the dues, but in vain.
Since the properties are in the name of Lord Hanuman, the notices will be served on him, asking him to pay the due tax immediately or ‘face action’.
That will involve putting up six hoardings of Lord Hanuman at different places in the town, declaring him to be a ‘property tax’ defaulter if the due tax is not paid immediately, an official said.
“Property tax amounting to Rs 4.33 lakh is due to be paid by Lord Hanuman,” an official of the municipal corporation said.
Ara municipal commissioner Pramod Kumar said the provision is to issue notices to the property holder. “These properties are in the name of Hanuman and the property tax has not been paid,” he said.
This is not the first time Lord Hanuman is facing legal action in Bihar.
In February, a lower court in Rohtas district issued summons to him to ‘appear in the court’ in connection with an encroachment case pertaining to a roadside temple dedicated to him. The sub-divisional magistrate had asked the god to appear in his court after hearing a complaint of encroachment filed by the state public works department.
Days before the Rohtas court order, civic authorities in Begusarai district issued an ‘eviction notice’ to ‘Bajrang Bali’ in another case of encroachment, pertaining to a temple constructed in Lohia Nagar area.
However, Bajrang Dal workers forced the authorities to dump the notice.
Image used for representational purpose only.
