Petition submitted before Bombay High Court seeks waiver of property tax, renewal fee. The petition submitted by the FRTWA quoted a large loss. FRTWA – Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association. They faced financial instability and mass unemployment. They deal with items that are not essential during the lockdown.

To waive property tax and license fees

A plea submitted before the Bombay High Court seeks to waive property tax and license fees. They seek relief from the state of Maharashtra. They demand for all lockdown periods starting from March 2020.

The petition submitted by the FRTWA, cites large losses, financial instability. They faced unemployment of the masses. The retail sector faced crises. As they deal with items that are not essential, they face the direct consequences of the lockdown.

The petition submitted was through the Advocate Dipesh Siroya. The state of Maharashtra, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and the Ministry of Revenue and Forests, Disaster Management, Relief, and Rehabilitation were respondents.

e-commerce service providers

The applicant highlights the various lockdown by the state. And also by the central government from March 2020. The sequence clarifies that all shops except important service providers must remain closed. The e-commerce service providers are permitted to provide only essential
services.

The petitioner handed over the petition. It stated that they supported the government lockdown. In return, there was no reciprocal subsidy for the closing. More than 13 lakh retailers has around 45 Lakh employees. They depend on the retail industry suffered. Retailers must pay salaries, least electricity, rental, property, and other legal taxes. They must pay even if the business is closed due to the covid pandemic. “With lockdown continue to extend in the state, it is difficult for retailers to pay employees. They were also unable to make business. There is a need to inject capital into the industry,” said the petition.

Due to lockdown, retailers cannot take advantage of benefits. The only source of their income is their consumer. They rely on it for business purposes, the petitioner delivered. The federation wrote several requests for tax waivers to various authorities. but they
did not receive any response.

Small-scale businesses get the necessary support. But retail stores are not because they are not in the definition of MSMEs. Thus left high and dry even though it is a small business, they indicated. As they are not part of the formal industry, they are not part of the relief scheme or
action.

payment of license fees, renewal costs, property taxes are not obligations

The Federation states that payment of license fees, renewal costs, property taxes are not obligations. They are only paid when members of the Federation operate their business. Of course, The retailers have the right to neglect payments. In fact, These taxes do not apply to the e-commerce industry.

The petitioner also accused that the e-commerce industry. By all means, he stated that guidelines issued under the disaster management law were violated. Finally, the respondent’s authority closed their eyes.