‘9 officials suspended for guidance value lapses’

Nine officials have been suspended in connection with the registration of properties at lower guidance value than what is stipulated, Revenue Minister R Ashoka said on Wednesday.

The minister was responding to a question raised by BJP MLC N Ravi Kumar. The minister, on the floor of the House, also directed the suspension of a sub-registrar in Belagavi, accused of tampering with the guidance value.

Meanwhile, Kumar pointed out that such irregularities were rampant in almost all taluks. In some BDA Layouts near Magadi Road including Kaveripura, Maruthi Nagar, Meenakshi Nagar, Ranganathapura and Sannakki Bayalu, as many as 337 sale deeds were registered at low guidance values causing a loss to the tune of Rs 103 crore to the state exchequer, he said. There were similar instances in Belagavi, too, he
added.

To this, Ashoka responded that, so far, no such instances were identified in the areas in Bengaluru mentioned by the MLC. “The residents of these areas are from economically weaker sections. The guidance value is low here as it is. Nonetheless, the government will inquire into the alleged irregularities,” he assured.