Pune Seizes 49 Sinhgad Institute Properties Over Tax Liabilities
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials seized 49 properties of the institute, located in the Wadgaon and Kondhwa areas, in a bid to recover the long-standing dues. While the immediate focus is on the pending tax liabilities, the seizure also raises broader questions about the accountability of educational institutions in meeting civic obligations.
The tax dues on these properties have been outstanding for several years, with the largest chunk of the liabilities—approximately Rs 198 crore—stemming from the institute’s holdings in Wadgaon. The properties in Kondhwa have an outstanding balance of Rs 20 crore, while those in Erandwane amount to Rs 48 crore. Despite repeated reminders from PMC, the educational body failed to settle the dues, prompting the drastic action of property seizure. “The institute has not responded adequately to our earlier requests for payment. Now, we have been forced to take these measures to recover the pending amounts,” said head of PMC’s property tax department. The seized properties include the institute’s administrative offices, which, according to PMC, will remain sealed for the time being. However, to avoid disrupting the academic calendar, the corporation has allowed the classrooms and campus to remain operational for the current academic year.
This development follows an earlier action in December 2024, when PMC seized one of Sinhgad Institute’s properties in Erandwane due to unpaid taxes. At that time, the institute was given a month’s grace period to settle the dues, but no payment was made, which led to the current escalation. Jagtap confirmed that the PMC would now proceed with auctioning the Erandwane property within the next month, with the valuation and bidding process already underway.
The seizure of properties in Wadgaon and Kondhwa comes with a clear deadline for the institute to clear its dues. Sinhgad Educational Institute has been given until March 31, 2025, to settle the outstanding amounts. If the payments are not made by then, those properties will also face further sealing. “Before an auction takes place, we ensure the proper legal procedures are followed, including adding the properties to the 7/12 abstracts. The auction process can be conducted either online or offline,” he added.
The situation has highlighted a recurring issue in Pune and other urban centres, where educational institutions, often regarded as community pillars, default on their civic responsibilities. In this case, the delay in clearing the property tax dues has now led to financial repercussions not only for the institute but also for the city’s taxpayers. While the legal framework allows for such measures to be taken, there is a growing call for more stringent monitoring and accountability within institutions that benefit from state support but fail to contribute to municipal coffers.
At the time of writing, Sinhgad Educational Institute had not responded to requests for comment. However, it is expected that the institution will take legal recourse to challenge the property seizures, which may lead to further delays in the recovery process. As PMC moves ahead with its plans to auction the properties, including the one in Erandwane, this case serves as a reminder of the importance of fiscal responsibility for all institutions, regardless of their nature or standing within society. The steps taken by PMC to recover dues could potentially set a precedent for how tax defaulters, especially educational institutions, are dealt with in the future, further emphasising the city’s commitment to ensuring a fair and sustainable approach to public finances.
