E-REGISTRATION OF PROPERTY

Buying land was the old time-tested way of investing. Coping with the myriad legal documentation that is required for it was another matter altogether. It usually meant long queues at the registration office and a bribe or two. But times have changed. With technology slowly casting its influence on every sphere of the government, you no longer have to suffer those long queues. E-registration is here, making life simpler and buying property a less cumbersome affair.

Government support for e-registration

To develop a comprehensive land record management system, the Government of India has introduced the ‘Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme’ (NLRMP). Such a mechanism restricts the scope for property disputes and enhances the transparency and conclusiveness of having title over immovable property.

As land revenue and maintenance of land records are matters that fall within the jurisdiction of the respective State Governments, the program has merely provided comprehensive guidelines for state governments to implement a system for computerised land records and e-registration of property. Many states have followed-up by implementing an e-registration system for properties. These include:

• Andhra Pradesh
• Karnataka
• Orissa
• Maharashtra
• Delhi
• Madhya Pradesh
• Uttarakhand.

These states have provided online registration portals.

How to register your property online

• Open the respective State Government’s online registration portal
• Provide a full and identifiable description of the property
• Select the correct type of property (house, agricultural, apartment, etc.) and mode of acquisition of the property (gift, sale, etc.)
• Provide your Aadhar number to verify your identity
• Enter all personal details of the owner of the property, including name of the owner, father’s/husband’s name, age, etc
• Provide proof of title deed and Power of Attorney document, if required
• Pay the prescribed registration fee as per the registration fee schedule of the State Government (Usually 1% of registered value of the purchased property but may be more depending on location of property)
• Payment of registration fee may be made by debit card, credit card or net-banking
• For the purpose of security and authorization of the registration, a One-Time-Password (OTP) will be generated and sent to the owner’s mobile number during the course of registration

Many states, including Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, have also introduced an ‘Anywhere Registration’ service. It provides for an amalgamation of various sub-registrar offices to form a joint sub-registrar offices across the state to allow e-registration of property in any sub-registrar office of any sub-district of the joint sub-registrar.

It is important to note that it is mandatory to register any immovable property that is in your name. The Apex Court has stated that a ‘Sale Deed’ alone would not transfer any title or interest over the property unless it is registered and stamped duly.

Available e-registration portals

Andhra Pradesh – ‘Prepare your own document’ service on the Registration & Stamps Department Website, Govt. of AP.

Karnataka – Bhoomi, a Government-to-Citizen portal that allows online registration of property.

Maharashtra – e-Registration of leave and license agreements and documents on the Official Department of Registration & Stamps Website.