K'taka govt turns 'Robinhood': Luxury weddings to be taxed

Bangalore, June 18: The

government has decided to impose luxury tax on big fat weddings across the state.

According to an NDTV report, weddings that cost more than Rs 5 lakhs or have 1,000 invitees will have to pay the tax, according to a new proposal brought by the government.

The amount of tax has not yet been decided, said the report.

"Lavishly they spend money on one side, so much food is wasted. And those in rural areas are imitating this by selling their available property to afford such unnecessary expenditure." said TB Jayachandra, the Law Minister of Karnataka, to NDTV.

"People spend up to Rs. 7,000 for each invitation card, while there are those who do not have a guaranteed meal a day", the report quoted him saying.

According to the proposal, special officials will carry out surprise checks at the weddings. Vendors hired for the weddings will be quizzed about cash payments.

The plan is to use the taxes collected from lavish weddings to sponsor the marriages of young women from poor families.

Oneindia News