DHARWAD: The state government’s decision to raise property registration fees by 2% has provoked significant backlash from the public and opposition parties, which are now urging an immediate reversal.
Deputy opposition leader Arvind Bellad criticized the Congress government’s “anti-people policies” that are adding to the burdens of citizens already facing rising costs. “The government has suddenly doubled the property registration fee. For low-income and middle-class families, this increase—raising stamp duty and registration charges to 7.6%—is a heavy burden,” he remarked, calling for a return to the previous rates.
Citizens claim that the state government has used the guise of “better service” to justify increased registration fees on real estate documents. To make matters worse, even documents registered a few days ago are now subject to the new rates.
Frustration is palpable among land, farm, and home buyers, as well as builders. Deed writers in Dharwad report that transactions have come to a halt due to the fee hike.
In response to the uproar, Commissioner of Registration and Stamp Duty, Mullai Muhilan, defended the fee increase, stating that Karnataka’s fees remain lower than in many other states. He confirmed that all pending or newly submitted documents will be recalculated at the new rate, and payment of the revised fees is mandatory.
