Selja criticises hike in land collector rates

Sirsa MP Kumari Selja has strongly opposed the Haryana Government’s decision to increase land collector rates, stating that it will heavily burden the common man while primarily benefiting the government’s revenue. She urged the administration to reconsider the move and address concerns raised by the Property Dealers Association.

The revised collector rates, effective from December 1, will remain in force until March 31, 2025. Selja criticised the timing, accusing the BJP government of deliberately avoiding the hike before the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to sidestep public outrage. She alleged that the premature implementation now betrays the trust of Haryana’s people.

Highlighting the impact of the decision, Selja noted that land transactions could not occur below the newly fixed rates, making purchase of property more expensive. According to government directives, districts in the National Capital Region, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonepat and Rohtak, are witnessing hikes as high as 30 per cent, while other districts face increase between 6 per cent and 15 per cent.

Selja questioned why the rate hike wasn’t aligned with the new financial year, beginning April 1. “This hasty decision denies people adequate time to adjust and disrupts ongoing transactions,” she said, echoing the Property Dealers Association's concerns. The association has warned that individuals holding stamp duty under old rates would face substantial losses due to the abrupt changes.

Calling for a review, Selja urged the BJP government to prioritise public welfare and avoid policies that harm citizens for short-term financial gains. She emphasised that the demands of stakeholders such as property dealers and citizens must be considered before implementing such measures.