Abohar’s first girls’ hostel, founded by Lala Lajpat Rai, sealed over Rs 2.25 lakh property tax default

The staff of the Abohar Municipal Corporation has sealed several properties for defaulting on property tax payments, including the Lala Lajpat Rai Mahila Hostel.

The hostel was run by the Servants of the People Society, which was founded in 1921 by Lala Lajpat Rai in Lahore and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. After Partition, the Society moved its headquarters to Delhi, and it now operates from Lajpat Nagar.

IK Gujral, former Prime Minister, and Krishan Kant, the 10th Vice President of India, were among the trustees of the Society.

To provide necessary shelter for girl students and a proper hostel facility, it was decided to build the hostel in Abohar. With the help of the local market committee, the Municipal Committee, and donations from public, the hostel was built in 1967 and named Lala Lajpat Rai Mahila Hostel. It was inaugurated on September 24, 1967, by Lalita Shastri, wife of late Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, who was also the President of the Servants of the People Society.

At the time of inauguration, it housed only 20 girl students. Over time, the number grew to 100, but the hostel became almost non-functional after local colleges built their own hostels in the last few years.

Sources said that on the orders of the Abohar Municipal Corporation Commissioner‑cum‑Deputy Commissioner, a drive was launched today against MC property tax defaulters to seal their buildings. The MC had previously issued notices to these debtors, but they did not respond. Superintendent Anju Bala, Chief Sanitary Inspector Iqbal Singh, Rohit Kumar and their team sealed the hostel, which reportedly owed about Rs 2.25 lakh.

They also sealed the property of an establishment owned by Sachin Setia near the Hanumangarh Road rail bridge for non-payment of Rs 3.75 lakh in property taxes. In addition, two automobile parts shops were sealed for not paying tax of Rs 44 lakh and Rs 47 lakh, respectively. However, some defaulters escaped action by making on-the-spot payments by cheque.