Noida: Residents of Noida Sector 105 have expressed strong resentment over construction cess or labour cess notices allegedly issued by the office of the deputy labour commissioner. The sector’s RWA has urged Gautam Buddh Nagar district magistrate Medha Roopam to intervene and stop the process.
RWA Sector 105 president Divya Krishnatray has submitted a letter to the district magistrate, seeking immediate cancellation of the notices and a halt to what the association described as an arbitrary assessment process.
According to the RWA, the office of the cess assessment officer and deputy labour commissioner, Sector 3, Noida, issued the notices based on an alleged GIS survey conducted in 2017-18. The association claimed that hypothetical construction costs have been assessed without physical verification or a ground-level inspection of the properties. The RWA alleged that residents are being asked to pay labour cess on houses that were constructed seven to 10 years ago, along with interest at 2 per cent per month and a penalty of up to 100 per cent.
RWA cites examples of labour cess notices
The association cited several notices to highlight what it described as disproportionate assessments. According to the RWA, Kamlesh Gupta of house number B-235 received notice number 12065/26 showing a notional construction cost of ₹94.50 lakh and demanding ₹94,500.03 as cess.
Similarly, Jameel Ahmed of house number B-270 was allegedly served a notice demanding ₹86,351, while Jai Chand S. of house number B-229 received a notice for ₹11,886. The RWA said such demands have caused concern among residents, particularly senior citizens and retired people who may face difficulty in meeting unexpected financial liabilities.
RWA questions timing of cess recovery
Divya Krishnatray said the recovery of construction cess several years after completion of construction was legally and ethically questionable. The RWA has also raised concerns over the alleged expiry of the applicable three-year limitation period.
The association further claimed that the Noida Authority’s rules and lease deeds do not contain a clear provision for separate recovery of such cess from residents in these circumstances. According to the RWA, if the cess was payable, it should have been collected at the time of construction or when the completion certificate was issued.
The association described the sudden financial burden on residents as harassment and called for the authorities to review the notices before proceeding with recovery.
RWA seeks physical verification
The RWA has requested the district magistrate to cancel all notices issued to residents of sector 105 that it considers contrary to the applicable rules. It has also sought an immediate halt to the existing assessment process and demanded that any future assessment be carried out transparently after physical verification of properties.
The RWA said it expects the district administration to intervene and provide relief to residents facing financial and mental stress due to the notices. The association also stated that it will continue working to safeguard the rights and interests of residents of sector 105.