Punjab Government Dismisses Reports Of Tax On Pets

After reports of tax on keeping pets in Punjab went viral and received flak from the people, the government has dropped the plan. Local bodies minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu on yesterday evening announced that it was only a proposal.

A draft notification was indeed prepared by the department on September 29 for the Punjab Municipal Corporation and Municipal (Registration, Proper Control, and Compensation to the Victims of Animal Attack) Bye-laws 2017, under which annual registration fee of Rs 250 to 500 was proposed along with clauses to compensate victims if the animals attacked. The draft notification was created after numerous petitions were made to Punjab and Haryana high court regarding stray dog menace.

“Without a formal notification, we cannot charge a fresh tax from the people. It’s all rumor that some ‘cats and dogs tax’ is being imposed.” Sidhu told HT.

A local bodies department official said,

“It is good that we have the time for course correction. The proposal was made but has been dumped now.”

Department officials now say the proposal for registration and getting licences for pets will be made mandatory even if no tax is imposed.

Reference: Hindustan times

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