Commencing from Tuesday, no registrations will be taken up in the State until further orders. However, registration of will deeds, administration of marriages and franking services will continue as usual. Further, all the Village Revenue Officers (VROs) were instructed to hand over all the records to the Tahsildars concerned with immediate effect. The Revenue department took these decisions on Monday ahead of introducing the new Revenue Bill during the ongoing Assembly session.
The State government has begun the exercise to bring some major reforms in the Revenue department as part of the proposed new Revenue Act which is scheduled to be introduced in the State Legislative Assembly on Thursday. The objective is to providing quality services to citizens for registration of property documents, by bringing certain changes in the related processes and technical applications.
Orders have been issued declaring holidays for all the Registrar and Sub-Registrar Offices in the State commencing from Tuesday until further orders, in respect of all registration services under the Registration Act, 1908. Accordingly, the authorities concerned also have stopped booking slots for registrations and selling the revenue stamps on Monday itself. Only those who have booked slots on Monday, were allowed to get their lands and other properties registered as per schedule.
Sources said the State government is likely to abolish the VRO system amidst increasing complaints of corruption. The speculations were rife in this regard, after the VROs were instructed to hand over all the records including original, photostat copies, online copies, printed and handwritten copies available with them, to the Tahsildars by 3 pm on Monday.
Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar instructed the district collectors to take complete the process by 3 pm on a priority basis and send a compliance report to the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) by 5.30 pm. Until further orders, the records will be maintained at mandal level under the personal custody of the Tahsildars.
