Chikkamagaluru sub-registrar office has no building of its own

It would be hard to believe that a government establishment, which earns as much as Rs 35 crore for the exchequer every year, operates in a rented building.

The Sub-registrar office and the office of district Registrar, which bring crores of income to the government, do not have buildings of their own and have been functioning in rented buildings, paying several thousands of rupees per month.

The Sub-registrar offices stand next to the department of sales tax and excise, in bringing highest revenue to the state government. Hundreds of people come to Sub-registrar’s office everyday to carry out the registration of assets, house, land, marriage and others.

Last year, the government had earned Rs 6,500 crore from across the state, through these departments and this year, it has set a target of Rs 8,200. In the sub-registrar’s office, an average of 20 marriages are registered everyday. 

Also, 15-20 land and site registrations are being done. Everyday, as much as 150 ECs will be given away and around 50 people come for registration towards availing of loans.

In 2009, the Sub-registrar’s office was shifted to the existing rented building on a temporary basis, as the old taluk office was in a dilapidated condition. Even though a new building was built for the taluk office, no space was reserved for the Sub-registrar’s office as a result of which, the office continues to operate in the rented building on Rathnagiri road.

The rent paid by the department for the building is Rs 59 thousand per month ! Despite, the princely sum, there are no parking space and space for the visitors. The 150 years old documents are stored in the rented building, which is also in a pitiable condition.

Taluk Sub-Registrar B Devraj said that a land measuring 1-0 gunte, near Zilla Panchayat has been sanctioned towards the district Registrar’s office. A grant of Rs 1.30 crore has been released by the government towards the same, a month back. The tender process is yet to be done, he said.

Department sources said it was planned to build a two-storied building for the office of the Registrar.

There was a requirement for a land measuring 3,500 square metre area and the office area will be seven thousand square feet. Accordingly, a memorandum was submitted to the government, asking  to sanction Rs 50 lakh to Rs 60 lakh.
 After the demand, the building work has been pending, making it inevitable for the office to operate in the rented building.

Devraj further said the construction of the new building, may take three to four years to get over.

As a new DC office complex will come up near the Zilla Panchayat, people would be benefited if the building for the Sub-Registrar office is constructed in the sanctioned land. Efforts are being made through proper channel, to have an own building for the office, he said.

He said that 6,000 registration pertaining to assets were done last year, bringing a revenue of Rs 35 crore. More than ten thousand documents were registered before last two years.