Section 217 in The Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888
217. [ Appeals when and to whom to lie. [As to references by the Chief Judge of the Court of Small Causes to the High Court, before or on the hearing of an appeal under Section 217 (see Act 12 of 1888, Section 2).]
(1)Subject to the provisions hereinafter contained, appeals against any rateable value [or the capital value, as the case may be,] or tax fixed or charged under this Act shall be heard and determined by the Chief Judge of the Small Cause Court.(2)But no such appeal [shall be entertained] [These words were substituted for the words 'shall be heard' by Maharashtra 63 of 1975, Section 6(a)(i).] by the said Chief Judge, unless-(a)it is brought within [twenty-one days] [These words were substituted for the words 'fifteen days' by Maharashtra 11 of 2009, Section 46(2)(a), dated 13-4-2009 (w.e.f. 1-4-2010).] after the accrual of the cause of complaint;(b)in the case of an appeal against a rateable value [or the capital value, as the case may be,] [These words were inserted by Maharashtra 11 of 2009, Section 46(2)(b), dated 13-4-2009 (w.e.f. 1-4-2010).] a complaint has previously been made to the Commissioner under section 163, and such complaint has been disposed of;(c)in the case of an appeal against any amendment made in the assessment book under section 167 during the official year, a complaint has been made by the person aggrieved within [twenty-one days] [These words were substituted for the words fifteen days by Maharashtra 11 of 2009, Section 46(2)(c), dated 13-4-2009 (w.e.f. 1- 4-2010).] after he first received notice of such amendment, and his complaint has been disposed of;(d)in the case of an appeal against a tax, or in the case of an appeal made against a rateable value [or the capital value; as the case may be,] [These words were inserted by Maharashtra 11 of 2009, Section 46(2)(d)(1), dated 13-4-2009 (w.e.f. 1-4-2010).] [the amount of the disputed tax claimed from the appellant, or the amount of the tax chargeable on the basis of the disputed rateable value, up to the date of filing of the appeal, has been deposited by the appellant with the Commissioner [and such appeal is accompanied by a receipt of full amount of tax to which appeal relates] [This portion was substituted for the portion beginning with the words 'after a bill' and ending with the words 'with the Commissioner' by Maharashtra 63 of 1975, Section 5(a) (ii).].](2A)[ Where the appeal is not filed in accordance with the provisions of clauses (a) to (d) of sub-section (2), it shall be liable to be summarily dismissed,] [Sub-section (2A) was inserted by Maharashtra 11 of 2009, Section 46(3), dated 13-4-2009 (w.e.f. 1-4-2010).](3)[ In the case of any appeal entertained by the Chief Judge, but not heard by him, before the date of commencement of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Act, 1975, the Chief Judge shall not hear and decide such appeal, unless the amount of the dispute tax claimed from the appellant, or the amount of the tax chargeable on the basis of the disputed rateable value, as the case may be, up to the date of filing the appeal, has been deposited by the appellant with the Commissioner within thirty days from the date of publication of a general notice by the Commissioner in this. behalf in the local newspapers. The Commissioner shall simultaneously serve on each such appellant a notice under sections 484 and 485 and other relevant provisions of this Act, for intimating the amount to be deposited by the appellant with him.(4)As far as possible, within fifteen days from the expiry of the period of thirty days prescribed under sub-section (3), the Commissioner shall intimate to the Chief Judge the names and other particulars of the appellants who have deposited with him the required amount within the prescribed period and the names and other particulars of the appellants who have not deposited with him such amount within such period, on receipt of such intimation, the Chief Judge shall summarily dismiss the appeal of any appellant who has not deposited the required amount with the Commissioner within the prescribed period.] [Sub-section (3), (4) and (5) were inserted by Maharashtra 63 of 1975, Section 5(b).](5)[ In the case of any appeal against any rateable value or property tax fixed or charged under this Act, which may have been entertained by Chief Judge before the commencement of the Act aforesaid or which may be entertained by him after the said date the Chief Judge shall not hear and decide such appeal unless the property tax, if any, payable on the basis of the original rateable value plus eighty per centum, of the property tax claimed from the, appellant on the increased portion of the rateable value of the property out of the property tax claimed under each of the bills which may have been issued, from time to time, since the filing of appeal, is also deposited with the Commissioner within the period prescribed under the Act. In case of default by the appellant, on getting an intimation to that effect from the Commissioner, at any time before the appeal is decided, the Chief Judge shall summarily, dismiss the appeal:Provided that, in case the appeal is decided in favour of the Corporation interest at 6.25 per centum per annum shall be payable by the applicant on the balance amount of the property tax from the date on which the amount of property tax, was payable:Provided further that, in case the appeal is decided in favour of the appellant and the amount of property tax deposited with the Corporation is more than the property tax payable by him, the Commissioner shall adjust the excess amount of the property tax with interest at 6.25 per centum per annum from the date on which the amount is deposited with the Corporation towards the property taxes payable thereafter] [Sub-section (5) was substituted and deemed to have been substituted w.e.f. the date of commencement of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1975 by Maharashtra 10 of 1998, Section 113.].]
