General exemptions.

(1) The following buildings and lands shall be exempted from the property tax:-(a) places set apart for public worship and either actually so used or used for no other purposes; (b) choultries for the occupation of which no rent is charged. (c) places used for the charitable purpose of sheltering the destitute or animals and orphanages, homes and schools for the deaf and dumb, asylum for the aged and fallen women and such similar institutions run purely on philanthropic lines as are approved by Government; (d) such ancient monuments protected under the Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1961 (Karnataka Act 7 of 1962) and the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (Central Act 24 of 1958) or parts thereof as are not used as residential quarters or public offices; (e) charitable hospitals and dispensaries but not including residential quarters attached thereto; (f) such hospitals and dispensaries maintained by railway administrations as may from time to time be notified by Government, but not including residential quarters attached thereto; (g) burial and cremation grounds included in the list published by the chief Commissioner; (h) the Government lands set apart for free recreational purposes and all such other Government land as may be notified by it, from which in the opinion of the Government no income could be derived; (i) building or lands exclusively used for,-(a) students hostels which are not established or conducted for profit; (b) the educational institutions established for the purpose of education, recognized by the Government or Local Authority. (c) the offices of Labour Associations registered under the Trade Union Act, 1926 (Central Act 16 of 1926) and belonging to such Association; (j) buildings or lands belonging to the Central Government or any State Government used for purposes of Government and not used or intended to be used for residential or commercial purposes; (k) buildings or lands belonging to any Urban Development Authority constituted under the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities Act, 1987 , the Bangalore Development Authority, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board the Karnataka Housing Board or any local authority the possession of which has not been delivered to any person, in pursuance of any grant, allotment or lease; (l) land which is registered as land used for agricultural purposes in the revenue accounts of the Government and is actually used for the cultivation of crops: Provided that nothing contained in clauses (a), (c) and (e) shall be deemed to exempt from property tax, any building or vacant land for which rent is payable by the person or person using the same for the purposes referred to in the said clauses: Provided further that for purpose of clause (j), a certificate issued by Government or any officer duly authorised by Government that any building or vacant land is used for purposes of Government and not used or intended to be used for residential or commercial purposes shall be binding on the corporation. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter, the Corporation may exempt fifty percent of the property tax on any one of the land or building belonging to an ex-serviceman or family of a deceased ex-serviceman, in the manner as may be prescribed. Explanation.- For the purpose of this sub-section,-(a) “ex-serviceman” means a person who has served in any rank in the regular Army, Navy and Air Force of the Union and includes a person who has served in Defence Security Corps, the General Reserve Engineering Force, the Lok Sahayak Sena and Para Military Forces; (b) “family of the deceased ex-serviceman” means the father, mother, the surviving spouse and minor children of the deceased ex-serviceman: Provided that, in respect of a building, it must be used by the ex-serviceman or member of the family of a deceased ex-serviceman for the purpose of their residence: Provided further that, the ex-serviceman or his family as the case may be shall submit a certificate from Sainik Welfare Board, Karnataka that he,-(i) is an ex-serviceman or as the case may be he is a member of the family of the deceased ex-serviceman; (ii) is a permanent resident of Karnataka; and (iii) is residing in such building. (3) Notwithstanding the exemptions granted under this section it shall be open to the corporation to collect service charges for providing civic amenities and for general or special services rendered at such rates as may be prescribed.