Entertaining Delhi since 1947, a landmark in the Walled City and one of the oldest single-screen theatres in the Capital, Ritz Cinema at Kashmere Gate has moved the Delhi High Court challenging its sealing by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.
Economical option
The theatre, an economical option for those who cannot afford pricy multiplex tickets, was sealed earlier this year by the civic body for non-payment of property tax amounting to a little over Rs.26 lakh for the year ending 2013.
The matter came up on Wednesday before a Bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, who was told by M/s Ritz Theatre Pvt Ltd that it is the tenant and that property tax is always paid by the property owner. The owners have also been impleaded as party to the matter.
Appearing for Ritz Cinema, advocate Amardeep Singh said they have never paid property tax and it has always been paid by the owner, as is the law.
“The erstwhile owners of the property sold it to the present owner sometime ago. The present owner is now asking us [M/s Ritz Theatre Pvt Ltd] to vacate the premises. It is the owner who has to pay the property tax to the civic body. Amid all this, the theatre has been sealed. So the question arises as to under what provision of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act has the theatre been sealed when as tenants, we are not supposed to pay the tax,” Mr. Singh said.
Obligation
Section 120 of the Act casts obligation on owner of the property to pay property tax.
He added that as per the law, the civic body can attach the rent, but not seal the property. The Court asked the civic body under what provision had it sealed the theatre.
The matter will now come up for hearing on August 9.
