Registration of properties has come to a grinding halt in the capital. The Delhi government’s order for special certificates on safety and building by-laws has dried the property transaction business in the capital, resulting in a daily loss of about `7 crores everyday for the exchequer apart from leaving people high and dry.
As per the order issued by the revenue department of the city government, any registration of properties require special certificates from a host of agencies as prerequisite. “The property owner needs to get a special certificate stating that there is no structural deviation in the building apart from getting another one from the MCD approving the building plan. Further, the building also needs to have a safety certificate which involves the fire department,” stated a senior official of the city government.
Adding further to the woes of the property owners is another requirement that the owner needs to get another certificate stating that there is no unauthorised constructions in the building. Following the order, the south zone alone where the sub-registrar’s office used to process 50 applications for registration of properties on a daily basis is left with business in four or five that too of “Will” deeds only, added the official.
Delhi revenue minister A.K. Walia stated that the city government is incurring revenue losses following the order and the matter is being deliberated at the top level to arrive at a solution. “The matter is now with chief secretary P.K. Tripathi who is in touch with the principal secretary and divisional commissioner to find a solution. The Delhi Cabinet too has deliberated on the issue,” stated Dr Walia, who added that the annual revenue from the registrations of properties is about `1500 crores.
Senior Delhi government officials stated that the order for special certificate for registering properties is also giving scope for more litigation. “In the absence of registrations of properties, the buyers and sellers are faced with the situation how to deal with the appreciation of the property in the intervening period,” stated another senior official.