In an important legal development, the Supreme Court has dismissed the special leave petition filed by Deepak Fertilizers against the property tax notice issued by the Panvel Municipal Corporation for its property in the Taloja MIDC area. The petition was rejected after a hearing on April 15, 2025, clearing the way for the municipal corporation to proceed with further actions regarding the tax collection.
The legal battle began when Deepak Fertilizers challenged the property tax notice in the High Court, which had dismissed their petition. Subsequently, the company approached the Supreme Court for relief, but their plea was once again rejected. The two-member bench, comprising Justices Mrs. B. V. Nagarathna and Mr. Satish Chandra Sharma, denied any interim relief and instructed that any request for relaxation should be made in the High Court.
The case has garnered significant attention, as its outcome is expected to impact other industrial companies operating in the Taloja MIDC area. To ensure effective representation, Panvel Municipal Corporation’s Commissioner Mangesh Chitle directed Additional Commissioner Ganesh Shete and Deputy Commissioner Swaroop Kharge to attend the Supreme Court hearings. Under their guidance, the corporation presented a systematic compilation of relevant documents dating back to the village panchayat era as well as after the formation of the municipal corporation.
Representing Deepak Fertilizers in the Supreme Court was senior advocate Kapil Sibal, while the Panvel Municipal Corporation was represented by India’s Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, along with senior advocates Patwalia, Sudhanshu Chaudhary, and Samrat Shinde.
With the Supreme Court’s decision, the Panvel Municipal Corporation now has a clear path forward for property tax collection, bringing the corporation onto the front foot in its efforts to enhance revenue generation. The decision is expected to have a ripple effect on other businesses in the Taloja MIDC area as they navigate similar challenges.
