- (1.) The present appeal has been directed against the judgment and decree dated 15.12.1989 passed by the Additional District Judge, Ferozepur accepting the appeal of the respondents and dismissing the suit of the plaintiff-appellant.
(2.) The facts relevant for disposal of the present appeal are that the appellant filed suit for recovery of Rs. 4,722/- by way of refund of house tax paid in excess while challenging the assessment made by the Municipal Committee, Zira (for brevity "the Committee") for the year 1986-87 to be null and void and against the principles of natural justice. It was averred that the Committee wrongly and arbitrarily assessed the house tax amounting to Rs. 5,832/- for the year 1985-86 and the amount was deposited on 14.11.1985 to avoid any complicacy of fine etc. The site in dispute remained vacant from 10.5.1985 to 30.5.1985. The Committee assessed house tax at the rate of 15% of the annual rental value of the building or the site and in this way, the house tax should have been assessed at Rs. 7376.51 it being the rental value of the property in dispute. The building in dispute was vacated by the Food Corporation of India on 30.3.1986 and lying vacant till today, therefore, the Committee wrongly assessed the house tax for the year 1986-87 on the basis of previous year without hearing the plaintiff and without serving any notice upon him.
(3.) The defendants-respondents filed written statement seriously contesting the claim of the plaintiff-appellant. The Committee assessed house tax for the year 1985-86 after giving notice to the plaintiff but he did not raise any objection to the assessment and has paid house tax. In view of the provisions contained in Section 68 of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911 (for short "the Act"), there is no need for new assessment of house tax. It has challenged the maintainability of the suit in the present form, suit being bad for want of notice and jurisdiction of the court being barred under Section 86 of the Act.;