Kalyan: The tax department of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) on Tuesday sealed the offices of G R Patil School and Junior College in Titwala over non-payment of nearly Rs 1.3 crore property tax arrears.According to KDMC officials, the school had defaulted on property tax payments for several years. The school paid Rs 57 lakh two years ago, but had not cleared the dues. A penalty at the rate of 24% was imposed on the outstanding amount since the building is illegal, increasing the total liability to Rs 1.3 crore. Despite repeated notices, the school management failed to pay the balance amount, prompting KDMC to seal the premises under the supervision of tax superintendent Jayaram Shinde.The principal’s cabin, staff room, fee counter, and management office were sealed. Officials maintained that the seals would not be lifted until the pending dues are cleared.Headmistress Vidya Kamble acknowledged that the school building is unauthorised, but said the regularisation process is in progress. She expressed concern over the timing of the action, saying exam preparations are on and SSC practical and oral exams have already commenced. “All academic and administrative documents are inside the sealed offices. The staff is now working out of classrooms,” she said.Describing the institution as an unaided, self-financed school and junior college serving over 550 students from economically weaker sections, Kamble appealed for administrative intervention, warning that the sealing of offices could disrupt routine functioning and affect ongoing examinations. Kamble claimed that Rs 1 crore of the arrears are penalty charges. “We have requested KDMC to reduce the penalty, but officials cited closure of the Amnesty Scheme and declined relief,” she said.KDMC officials, however, reiterated that recovery actions are being undertaken strictly as per rules and that compliance with property tax obligations is mandatory.Tuesday’s action comes as KDMC pursues its revenue target of Rs 750 crore for the 2025–26 financial year. With around Rs 300 crore collected so far, the tax department has accelerated recovery measures after being relieved from election-related duties. The department has launched a series of steps against defaulters, including issuing notices and sealing properties.
