HC asks GHMC about library cess

Hyderabad, Nov 01: The common division bench Hyderabad High Court pulled up the GHMC for non- remittance of the library cess to city Grandhalaya Samastha here on Tuesday.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili, while dealing with a PIL by the Lok Satta, pointed out dereliction on part of the GHMC in remitting the library cess to the Hyderabad City Grandhalaya Samastha.

The petitioner contended that the GHMC has to implement AP Public Library Act 1960, in letter and spirit and remit the library cess amount of Rs.331 crore that was due to HCGS for the years 2006-07 to 2013-14.

After perusing the provisions of the Act 1960, the bench said that it was the duty of the GHMC to remit 8 percent of the cess to the HCGS.The bench directed the GHMC to file the details by November 14 of the cess collected so far.