Chandigarh, April 12 -- Demanding withholding of the steep hike in property tax, city mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla on Friday also sought a financial inquiry into the fiscal crisis being faced by the municipal corporation (MC).

In a letter to UT chief secretary Rajeev Verma, the mayor stated that the hike would amount to almost triple the current property tax rates - a move never seen before in the history of Chandigarh. This unprecedented proposal had been introduced without any consultation or approval from the elected councillors, she said.

She added, "Taking such a major decision unilaterally undermines the democratic process and the authority of the elected representatives."

Furthermore, the mayor highlighted the ongoing financial dis...