Latest StoriesResidential

Ownership Verification Required Before Property Registration in UP

LUCKNOW: On Tuesday, the Cabinet made a significant decision regarding property sales registration, mandating the stamp and registration department to verify property ownership details prior to registration. Ravindra Jaiswal, the Minister of State (Independent) for Stamp and Registration, stated that new rules will soon be established to require verification of ‘khatauni’ (land records) and ownership documents before registration, aiming to eliminate fraudulent or contested land registrations. “We have encountered multiple instances where properties are sold by individuals who are not the legitimate owners, including prohibited or restricted properties, properties sold beyond legal ownership rights, and even those owned by the…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

SC Flags Issues, Urges Law Panel to Explore Blockchain for Property

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has raised concerns about systemic weaknesses in colonial-era property laws, advocating for nationwide reform. The court has instructed the Law Commission to create a comprehensive report examining the use of Blockchain technology to modernize property registration processes. Blockchain technology offers a secure, transparent, and immutable digital ledger for property transactions, significantly reducing fraud and improving verification processes for ownership and transactions through smart contracts. This directive followed a landmark ruling from a bench consisting of Justices Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi, which invalidated Bihar’s 2019 amendment that allowed registration authorities to deny registration of…

IndustryLatest Stories

Fake PANs Help Real Estate Deals Skirt Taxes

MUMBAI: There are concerns that thousands of property transactions nationwide may have escaped the notice of tax authorities. Intentional reporting omissions, along with fictitious or incorrect Permanent Account Numbers (PANs) associated with buyers and sellers in property documents, have allowed many deals to evade scrutiny from the Income Tax (I-T) department. Officials from the investigation wing of the tax office are currently reviewing records from property registrars for verification. Registrars are mandated to report transactions involving properties valued at ₹30 lakh or more. In some instances, parties, in collusion with certain registrar officials, have ensured that transactions remain unreported or…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

How Ghaziabad Plans to Tackle Illegal Colonies Without Power

GHAZIABAD: To tackle the rapid proliferation of unauthorized colonies, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) vice chairperson, Atul Vats, has reached out to the stamp and registry department to halt the registration of plots in these illegal areas. Instructions have also been issued to the power department and civic corporation to refrain from granting electricity, water, or sewerage connections until the GDA provides a completion certificate. A recent survey by the GDA discovered 351 illegal colonies covering 2,944 acres in the city, an increase from 321 in 2021. Officials attribute this rise to ongoing property registrations despite the illegal status of…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Odisha HC: Co-owners can sell undivided property shares freely

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court recently upheld the rights of co-owners in joint properties, stating that a co-sharer can sell their undivided share without needing consent from other co-sharers. This resolution was issued by Justice Ananda Chandra Behera during a hearing regarding a petition from Padmini Barik. She contested the refusal of the Basudevpur sub-registrar in Bhadrak district to register her sale deed. Barik claimed her deed was rejected due to the absence of her co-sharers’ consent. The High Court deemed this refusal legally invalid. In the judgment delivered on August 25, Justice Behera referenced Section 44 of the Transfer…