Records Of Illegal Constructions, Violations Go Missing In Agra; Other States Focus On Going Digital

The traditional way of registering your property or recording your property details has been a time-consuming and expensive process, it still is in many places. Definitely a tedious process not just for homeowners but authorities as well. A recent example from the Agra Development Authority (ADA) would help you understand the dimensions of the problem that happens when one sticks to the traditional way. 

In an incident reported recently, the ADA has pulled up its officials. The reason will make you realise the importance of going digital. Over 500 property records have gone missing from the authority’s office most of which were crucial records that had information about violation and land dispute.

The ADA has said that it would take strict action against officials fnegligenceligience. Times of India has reported that while no concrete proof against officials have come up, there have been irregularities in the database wherein land details haven’t been registered. The ADA had been feeding data relating to 35,000 properties and during cross-checking, the 500 missing property details were came up, confirmed ADA secretary, Hari Ram. Among these are also details about encroachments, unauthorised constructions etc. Now, the ADA has been mandated to colour code their files to protect and differentiate one from another.

Meanwhile, other states are focussing on going online. Here's a look at the recent changes and developments in various states when it comes to property registration:

• Haryana can soon become India's first state to roll out a cloud-based, centralised online property registration system. Web-HALRIS, the cloud system is being tested on a pilot basis and is developed by the Revenue and Disaster Management department. Using this software, details about registration, mutations and jamabandi processes can be integrated and verified to understand the ownership and share of the seller.

• Complaining about ever-rising real estate prices? The Punjab government has decided to lower the circle rates as well as stamp duty on registration of property from nine per cent to six per cent till March, 2018. This was done to encourage investments in the otherwise sluggish market.

• Come September and Odisha will go cashless for land registrations. Cash and other modes would be used only if the online system poses to be a problem. This has been done with a view to put an end to restrict corruption within the official system wherein cases of bribery are not uncommon.

• Goa, too, is trying to reduce delay and inconvenience caused to property owners because they had to keep making rounds of the government offices to get the property registered. Earlier this year, an e-governance platform was inaugurated which allowed integration of property registration and mutation systems. The mutation process would be completed within 90 days.

• Involved in buying or selling agricultural land, plots and flats in Hyderabad? The government is considering making Aadhar cards mandatory for registration of the property, bringing down irregularities and fraudulent methods of acquiring property. Maharashtra, too, is aiming at the same. Previously, there was a huge debate about whether Aadhar cards should be made mandatory. While certain state governments are sticking to it, others like Nagaland would find it tough to do so because as per reports, nearly 45 per cent of the public doesn't have an Aadhar card.

• Within a few months, Delhiites who pay the stamp duty online, would no longer need to go to the bank to take a printout of the same. A software is being developed by the revenue department which allows property owners to print the stamp paper at home. Similarly, an e-calculator would help calculate the stamp duty, registration fee and circle rates and is being considered by the authorities.

• The registration department in Maharashtra had suggested the state government that it should amend a part of the Maharashtra Registration Rules 1961 which says that while registering a property, witnesses should be present. The department has said that with almost 90 per cent of the populace having Aadhar numbers, identification is not an issue. In fact, biometric information is way more reliable.

Now that blockchain technology is being discussed within Indian real estate sector, property registrations going online, easier, faster and Aadhar-linked means it could become easier to track benami transactions.