BENGALURU: The state government has introduced draft rules aimed at combating fraud in property registration, empowering district registrars to cancel registrations made with forged or illegal documents without requiring court intervention. This marks a significant change in the state’s registration process.
On Friday, the Karnataka Registration (Refusal and Cancellation of Registered Documents) Rules 2025 were unveiled, inviting public feedback for 15 days before their finalization. These provisions aim to address persistent loopholes in the document registration system.
According to the draft rules, a district registrar can annul fraudulent registrations either independently or upon receiving a complaint. Affected individuals have three years to appeal. If fraud is discovered post-appeal, citizens can seek cancellation from the inspector general of registration (IGR), who must verify documents and listen to all parties prior to issuing a cancellation.
Mullai Muhilan MP, IGR and commissioner of stamps, explained to TOI that previously, sub-registrars lacked authorization to refuse document registration, and the government was also unable to cancel registrations. “An amendment to the registration Act now empowers district registrars to cancel registrations based on forged documents. Draft rules aimed at implementing this Act effectively have been formulated,” he stated.
Muhilan further noted that the final rules will be established after considering public feedback. “These new regulations represent a strong effort to eliminate illegality in property registration, safeguarding the public and protecting their assets from fraudsters,” he emphasized.
To enhance scrutiny, registering officers will cross-check documents against an integrated electronic database maintained by the IGR. If discrepancies are identified, registration can be denied, with justifications documented.
The draft rules also provide protections for properties being pursued by courts or investigative bodies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation. Registering officers are required to consult the IGR’s electronic register of attachments before processing registration for such properties.
The IGR has called for public objections and suggestions, which can be submitted to the principal secretary of the revenue department (stamps & registration and disaster management) located on the 6th floor of MS Building, Dr. BR Ambedkar Veedhi, Bengaluru, within the designated timeframe.
