Registrations of land and property have declined in Buxar district following the introduction of a paperless registration system on August 3. The new digital process, which links registration with Aadhaar, is facing difficulties among villagers, farmers, elderly residents and people with limited digital literacy.
Buxar has two registration centres, located in Buxar and Dumraon. Before the paperless system was introduced, the Buxar registration office handled around 40 to 50 registrations a day, while the Dumraon office recorded approximately 30 registrations daily.
The number has dropped significantly since the implementation of the new system. According to officials, only 12 registrations have been completed at the Buxar office since August 3. No registration was recorded on Tuesday, while only three registrations were completed on Wednesday.
A similar decline has been reported at the Dumraon registration office, where only 11 registrations have been completed since the launch of the digital process.
Officials and deed writers have attributed the slowdown to difficulties faced by people in adapting to the new procedure. Many rural residents, particularly farmers and elderly people, are accustomed to conventional registration involving physical documents and signatures. The transition to an Aadhaar-linked digital process has therefore created uncertainty among some applicants.
Deed writers said several villagers remain hesitant about completing property transactions without physical paperwork. Limited familiarity with digital procedures has also made it difficult for some applicants to understand the steps involved in paperless registration.
Another issue was reported at the Buxar registration office when the registration account failed to open on Tuesday, preventing registration work from beginning that day. On Wednesday, only four people took appointments for registration.
Sub-Registrar Asit Kumar Singh said the paperless registration system is designed to make the process more convenient and secure. Under the new arrangement, registration is no longer carried out on physical stamp paper and the process is digitally linked to Aadhaar.
Officials said the Aadhaar-based procedure is intended to maintain the authenticity and security of registered documents while reducing the possibility of fraudulent transactions and impersonation. The digital process also reduces the role of middlemen and brokers, as applicants are required to complete registration through the prescribed procedure.
However, the initial decline in registrations indicates that residents need more assistance during the transition. Rural applicants who have limited experience with digital services may require guidance at registration offices to complete the process correctly.
Officials are considering awareness initiatives to improve understanding of the new system. Assistance desks, demonstrations and support for elderly residents and farmers could help applicants become familiar with the Aadhaar-linked procedure.
The transition to paperless land registration is part of the wider move towards digital property transactions. While the system is intended to improve security and reduce fraudulent practices, its effectiveness in Buxar will depend on whether residents are able to access and understand the new process. Increased public awareness and on-site assistance could help improve registration numbers in the coming weeks.
