Chandigarh: Panjab University, with property tax dues of around Rs 73 crore, has emerged as the biggest property tax defaulter on the MC’s list for the 2026-27 financial year.PU is followed by the UT engineering department, PGI and Punjab Engineering College (PEC), which owe Rs 16 crore, Rs 14.85 crore and Rs 11.79 crore, respectively, according to official MC records. Chandigarh Golf Club, which owes around Rs 13 crore, is also among the prominent defaulters. However, its case is pending in court.The MC has completed the process of identifying defaulters and preparing the list for the current financial year. Notices will be sent to them, asking them to clear their dues. Failure to do so will invite action as per norms.Sources said the dues had accumulated over the years as the defaulters had not paid the MC despite repeated reminders.The organisations, particularly PU, PEC and PGI, differ with the MC over the amount due. Their representatives have raised the issue in meetings with the civic body.In PU’s case, a reconciliation exercise was undertaken, following which the MC shared its tax records with the university. However, the civic body did not receive the full amount due, resulting in PU figuring among the top tax defaulters for the current financial year.“We have compiled a list of defaulters. The department concerned will start sending notices in the coming week or 10 days. Initially, tax defaulters will be given sufficient time to pay the tax amount, failing which action will be taken as per norms,” an official told TOI.As per MC records, the civic body collected Rs 68.28 crore in property tax till the end of August. Of this, Rs 40.49 crore was received from commercial properties, while Rs 26.91 crore was collected under the residential category. The MC also received around Rs 87 lakh in book entries, which are part of property tax collections.Till Aug 31, 77,607 taxpayers had paid their property tax to the authority.Box: Top property tax defaulters in the MC’s listEntities——————————————–Raised tax amount (approximate)Panjab University————————————————-73 croreEngineering department, UT administration—————–16 crorePGI——————————————————————-14.8 croreChandigarh Golf Club——————————————13 crorePEC——————————————————————11.7 croreBox: Tax Revenue DetailsTotal property tax collection————————————68.2Tax collected in commercial category————————40.4 croreTax collected in residential category————————-26.9 croreTotal book entries————————————————-87 lakhTotal taxpayers till August————————————–77,607
