Registration of properties in gram panchayats (also called gramtana properties), especially those on the periphery of Bangalore and other cities across the State, has almost come to a standstill.

Reason: A recent State government decision making it mandatory to submit computer-generated khata at the time of registration.

With the aim of preventing fraudulent transactions, the department of Stamps and Registration recently ordered that only computer-generated khata (also called Form 9 and 11 issued by panchayats) should be submitted at the time of registration.
But, a large number of panchayats lack the infrastructure to issue computerised khata. Thus, this has hit the registration of properties in gram panchayats.
The worst affected are those wanting to register properties on the outskirts of Bangalore and other major cities and towns, where a large number of real estate deals take place, official sources said.

The property registration is said to have dropped by about 50 per cent ever since the new rule came into effect. Private developers have not been able to register sites formed in the jurisdiction of Bangalore Development Authority, the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority and other urban development authorities in the State, sources said. Form 9 and 11 contains details of a property such as its number, measurement, description of the location and payment of taxes. Hitherto, sub-registrar offices registered property on submission of hand-written form 9 and 11.

Confusion to be cleared

S Selva Kumar, advocate on property matters, said the government should have given enough time to panchayats to switch over to the new system before making it mandatory. Though it is a good move and helps in preventing fraudulent transactions, the officials have not been implementing it due to the lack of proper infrastructure in panchayats.

When contacted, Inspector General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps Adoni Syed Saleem admitted that the registration of properties has suffered after the introduction of the new rule. “There is some confusion in the registration process as computerised khata has been made mandatory. “The issue has been brought to the notice of the government. Steps will be taken soon to sort it out,” he stated.

Final notification likely tomorrow

The Department of Stamps and Registration is likely to issue final notification on revision of property guidance value on August 8. It  has come to the notice of department that there was an error in the preliminary notification in revising the value of apartments. Value of apartments has been increased by an additional 30 per cent on an average despite increasing the value of land and building (built up area). Hence, the department is likely to make changes in the preliminary notification by bring down the apartment value by 30 per cent, official sources said.