Maharashtra government makes property cards available at the click of a button

The state government has undertaken an ambitious programme to digitise property cards and make them available online along with the details of change in title. This will eventually ensure transparency and curb cases of fraudulent transactions and cheating.

Instead of visiting the city survey offices to get these details and help cut down on time-lags and red tape, people will be able to view details of property cards, such as the CTS number, plot number, area in square metres, encumbrances and mutations recorded, at the click of a button. Mutation is the process of changing the ownership details in the land records.

"We are undertaking the computerisation and digitisation of property cards and modernisation of land records. Online mutations of 7/12 extracts (rural/agricultural land records) and property records will also be provided," said Chandrakant Dalvi, settlement commissioner and director of land records, Maharashtra.

The state has around 55 lakh property cards and about 2.40 crore 7/12 extracts. He added that 7/12 extracts had already been made available online.

"The digitisation of 80% property cards has been completed and they can be viewed online. The remaining are in the process of being corrected and verified," said Dalvi, adding that this would be completed within a year and they would be uploaded on the state land records department website at http://mahabhulekh.maharashtra.gov.in

"In order to take the property cards, people have to visit the city survey office. However, they will now be able to view these details online... any time they want," he said, adding that people will also be able to check the encumbrances on the property and verify other details as well. Dalvi said the online mutations of 7/12 extracts will be available in around six months, and property cards would also be covered under this in a year.

"Over a period of time, all land records will be in public domain," Maharashtra additional chief secretary (revenue) Swadhin Kshatriya told dna. He added that the digitisation of property cards and making them available online would help banks and financial institutions and potential buyers get details of encumbrances, title and ownership at the click of a button.

Pointing out that there were various types of land title like occupant class I and II, lease and occupancy, Kshatriya said there were curbs on transactions to be conducted on some of them.

Occupancy class I refers to land whose ownership was vested even before British land surveys or inherited land not given by the government, and its holders are called "superior land holders." Occupant class II means land acquired by the government under ceiling laws which has been given out to categories like the landless with curbs on transfer, sale and change of use. This occupant class II land does not have a fixed tenure. Land given on lease is for a particular period and has an annual rent while that on occupancy basis is akin to occupant class II land but with slightly more rights. Though the holders do not need the permission of the government for loans, sale or mortgage, this land has to be used for the set purpose.

"At the time of making deals on land, the parties will be able to see the property cards and know if the owner is part of occupant class I or II, lease or occupancy," said Kshatriya, adding that this would help curb cases of cheating. For instance, if there were attempts to sell occupant class II land, they will be able to know if these transactions were being done with the government's consent or not. The purchasers or financial institutions will also be able to know the encumbrances on the land and details like if it has been notified by the government for acquisition.