Property files incomplete, Sisodia cracks the whip at sub-registrars

Taking a serious view of delays in official work, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s office has issued directions to all 18 sub-registrars in the 11 districts to update by Friday all official files that record sale deeds and other transactions.

In view of the earlier reminders being ignored by the sub-registrars, Sisodia, who also holds the revenue portfolio, has insisted on the statutory requirement of maintaining a register with all entries – officially known as file pasting.

An official said the revenue department is facing a shortage of staff due to which there is a delay in sub-registrar offices in following the provisions of the Registration Act, 1908.  
 Senior officials, however, maintained that delay in file pasting promotes touts and non-transparency as people do not readily manage to get copies of documents related to properties.

The discrepancy in file pasting came to light last November after a public complaint was received by the vigilance director over wrongdoings in the office of sub-registrar in East district. 

A review of all sub-registrar offices was ordered, revealing that the file pasting work was not being done regularly in many offices.

The paper registers recording all property deals are maintained so that in case of property disputes they can be readily provided in courts. 

“It also serves as a back-up record for the e-deals and files in servers,” said an official.  

Sub-registrars have failed to give an updated report on the progress of file pasting work despite at least five earlier circulars issued to them.

Sisodia has insisted that the latest deadline of May 8 should be followed by all sub-registrars.

Many revenue department offices are conducting e-registration of properties. However, the statutory requirement of maintaining a register for parallel recording of all transactions is also supposed to be followed. 

The government’s decision to open registration of transactions in properties that were barred from sale or purchase due to presence of illegal construction in the “unsafe” buildings is also likely to increase the work at sub-registrars’ offices.