Harrison to remit tax for leased land

Kottayam: Following the High Court verdict which set aside the Raja Manikyam Report, Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML) is set to remit tax on the leased lands and establish the ownership. As part of the move, the company filed an application at Erumeli South Village Office to pay tax of Mundakkayam Estate.

Along with the application, copy of the High Court order and a cheque of Rs. 4 lakh are enclosed. The company has requested to accept the tax including the arrears. Though the village officer has received the application, he has not conceded acceptance of the tax. The officer has approached the collector for clarification on whether the tax can be accepted or not.

Tax has not been received from Harrisons since 2014-15. Since then applications to accept the tax were being rejected by the government offices pointing to the Raja Manikyam report.

In the wake of the High Court order, the company is all set to remit tax towards different portions of land under its control, spread over different districts. It is learnt that help of the political leaders who have connection with revenue department is sought to remit the tax.

It is pointed that revenue department cannot accept the tax from Harrison only because the court has set aside the Raja Manikyam report.

The government can appeal the High Court judgement within three months. The court in the judgement has made it clear that the government can approach the civil court. Also, the court has not given any judgment regarding the ownership of the land.

Action is still pending on the Vigilance report which revealed that ownership records produced by the company are forged.