GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRADERS THROUGH ONE TIME POLICY, BUT WILLFUL TAX EVASION WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, STRICT ENFORCEMENT ALONGSIDE TRADE FACILITATION DEFINES BHAGWANT MANN GOVT’S TAX GOVERNANCE MODEL
(MOREPIC1) Face2News/Chandigarh
Punjab Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday said the Bhagwant Mann Government is firmly balancing trade facilitation with strict tax compliance, as the Punjab Taxation Department has attached 136 properties worth ₹91.10 crore in a major drive to recover pending pre-GST arrears. He stated that while the government has extended a highly beneficial One Time Policy to help traders clear legacy dues, strong enforcement measures are being carried out against persistent defaulters.
Punjab Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “The Punjab Government is deeply committed to ensuring a harassment-free and conducive business environment. This is precisely why we have extended the One Time Policy, offering traders a golden opportunity to amicably settle their pre-GST arrears.”
The Excise and Taxation Minister further stated, “However, willful tax evasion will not be tolerated. The attachment of 136 properties worth over ₹91 crore sends a clear message that the Taxation Department is relentlessly pursuing major defaulters. I strongly urge all concerned traders to immediately avail the benefits of the One Time Policy to resolve their pending dues and save their properties from imminent auction.”
Sharing official data regarding the arrears summary as of February 18, 2026, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema noted, “The department has attached a total of 136 properties valued at ₹91.10 crore across various jurisdictions. This encompasses 78 properties worth ₹50.58 crore located within the primary districts, alongside another 58 properties valued at ₹40.52 crore situated in other districts, states, or union territories. Additionally, some properties have already been auctioned, resulting in a recovery of ₹15.27 crore.”
(SUBHEAD)He further elaborated, “The Head Office has already granted permission to sell 35 properties worth ₹33.77 crore. Of these approved cases, final auction dates have been set for 21 properties valued at ₹13.68 crore. District authorities themselves have undertaken auction proceedings for an additional 15 properties worth ₹16.42 crore, with formal permission for sale currently in process.”
“To ensure comprehensive cross-jurisdictional recovery, recovery certificates have been issued and are actively pending at the level of concerned Deputy Commissioners for 24 properties amounting to ₹10.61 crore. The mounting pressure from these enforcement actions is yielding tangible results, as several licensees and sureties have actively begun depositing their arrear amounts to halt the impending auction of their assets,” said the Minister.
Concluding, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema warned, “The Taxation Department is closely monitoring the recovery process. The final auctioning of properties where dates have already been fixed will proceed strictly as scheduled if the taxpayers against whom the Pre-GST arrears are outstanding fail to utilize the ongoing One-Time Policy (OTS).”
