The state cabinet on Thursday approved a bill that empowers district registrars to scrap property registrations done with fake documents – either suo motu or based on a complaint.
A revenue official said the Registration (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2023, will be tabled in the ongoing monsoon session of the legislature.
The new bill empowers registration officials, such as the sub-registrar, to refuse to accept documents if they are found to be fake. The official shall also have the authority to refuse to register a document relating to the transfer of an immovable property by way of sale, gift, lease or otherwise if it is attached by a competent authority, court or tribunal.
The highlight of the new legislation is the provision that enables a district registrar to cancel a document related to property transaction on his own if he finds the registration was done in violation of norms.
The bill also contains provisions to punish government officials, including sub-registrars, with a penalty or imprisonment if they are found to be involved in the registration of properties based on fake documents or in violation of the law.
Last year, Krishna Byregowda, the current revenue minister who was then in the Opposition, had raised the issue of rampant irregularities in registration of properties based on bogus documents.
He had drawn the attention of the house to an alleged racket whereby 70 plots on a 16-acre illegal layout in his Byataranayanapura assembly constituency in Bengaluru were registered using fake BBMP khatas.
Many MLAs, including a minister, had endorsed Byregowda’s allegations and complained that Bangalore Development Authority sites allotted to them were sold to others using fake documents in connivance with a section of revenue department officials.
“As he knows well the gravity of the issue and magnitude of the menace, Byregowda is particular about bringing a remedial measure and cancelling the registration of such properties,” a senior official from the revenue department said.
“In Bengaluru alone, thousands of properties are registered on the basis of fake khatas. The new amendment bill envisages cancellation of such properties and prevention of irregularities,” the official added.