GUJRAT: The local land revenue office has received dozens of objections to the exorbitant rates proposed in the evaluation table of the official rate list also known as the DC (district collector) rate of the land for 2024-25 in the district after it issued the new rate list and gave the litigants a week`s time to file objections or review applications against those proposed rates.

Deputy Commissioner Safdar Virk along with Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue ADCR Khizer Hayat Bhatti and assistant commissioners Bilal Zubair and Zohaib Mushtaq are hearing the objections against therates.

Some litigants told Dawn that they had come to know that the DC rate in their respective areas had been enhanced unusually which was a matter of concern for them.

Moreover, the real estate dealers also raised several objections to the proposed rates.

It is learnt that at least three dozen written complaints against the proposed rates had been filed in the district out of which almost half of them had been entertained whereas remaining litigants were convinced through the official record that the rates have been increased as per law.

An official says that two applications may be referred to the Punjab Board of Revenue (BoR)for reduction of rates notified even in the previous fiscal years as the DC is not authorised to reduce the existing rates or the previously notified rates.

However, after being convinced by the arguments and evidence provided by these litigants, the district administration decided to refer the matter to the BoR.

As per law, the land revenue department is authorised to increase the rates up to10pc.

ADCR Bhatti said the new rates would be notified and sent to the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) for insertion in the online system of property transactions so that the government taxes could be applied as per those rates at the time of property transactions.