The learned advocate for the petitioners has moved a Draft Amendment. The same is granted and shall be carried out during the course of the day.
Heard Mr.Mihir H.Joshi, learned Senior Advocate with Mr.Amar N.Bhatt, learned advocate for the petitioner. It is submitted by the learned Senior Advocate that the licence fees for the hoardings put up by the petitioner have been increased by 150% for the year 2011-12, as compared to the licence fees levied by the respondent-Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation for the year 2010-11, which is Rs.1,000/- per square metre per annum. It is further submitted that the increase in the licence fees is not warranted, especially in view of the fact that the petitioner has come to know that for the next year, i.e. 2012-13, the respondent-Corporation has reduced the licence fees to Rs.850/- per square metre per annum.
The learned Senior Advocate states that the petitioner has already paid the licence fees for the year 2011-12 at the rate of Rs.1,000/- per square metre per annum.
Issue Notice returnable on 25.04.2012.
In case the petitioner has not paid the full licence fees for the year 2011-12 at the rate of Rs.1,000/- per square metre per annum, the same shall be paid within a period of two weeks from today.
Subject to the above, the respondent-Corporation shall maintain status-quo, qua the hoardings of the petitioner.
Direct Service of this order is permitted.
(Smt.
Abhilasha Kumari, J.) (sunil) Top