KARACHI, July 8: Sindh Ombudsman Haziqul Khairi has given a decision against payment of tax on stolen cars on a complaint made by an individual.

Shamim Ahmed Siddiqui lost his car and its registration book as bandits took away his Corolla ACJ-935 car in Buffer Zone on Dec 11, 2000.

Though the car was recovered by the owner through Tibbi police, Lahore, on May 11, 2002, when he approached the Excise authorities in Karachi, he was asked to pay taxes for the period he remained without a car.

According to rule 13 (2-A) of the Motor Vehicle Taxation Act, 1958, it is mandatory upon the owner of the vehicles to surrender the registration book if the said vehicle is stolen.

The Ombudsman observed that the registration document of the car were stolen, with the car, which is also mentioned in the FIR and its certified copy was provided to the taxation officer.

Once the owner of a vehicle is able to establish that his vehicle had been stolen along with the registration document, he is entitled to be exempted under Motor vehicle Taxation act, 1958, he said.

In such a case, it is uncalled for to demand vehicle tax from the owner of the car.

Ombudsman declared that the complainant was not liable to pay motor vehicle tax for his Corolla, ACJ-935, between Dec 11, 2000, and May 11, 2002.—PPI