The state government is in the process of drafting a Land Titling Act that will require property cards for all land parcels throughout the state, as stated by revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Sunday in Pune. In addition to various other details, the card will indicate the property’s value.
A property card, commonly referred to as malmatta patrak, is an official land record document issued by the city survey department in urban regions. Currently, it serves as the primary legal proof of ownership for urban properties.
The card contains all pertinent information regarding the owner, the size and location of the property, as well as its transaction history. In rural areas, a 7/12 extract serves as the equivalent document. The minister remarked, “Once the act is enacted, properties belonging to 14 crore residents (the estimated population of Maharashtra) across the state will be included in the property card system.
The value of each property will be officially recorded on the card. This document will act as a universally recognized proof of land ownership, functioning similarly to how cash assets are currently acknowledged,” he added. Bawankule indicated that the government aims to finalize this legislation by July. The bill to formally convert it into an act is expected to be presented to the state assembly for approval during the monsoon session.
The minister made these comments to reporters following his attendance at Bharti Vidyapeeth’s foundation day event. This initiative is also anticipated to enhance the state’s economy and streamline land transactions. “No property in the state will lack a property card once the Act is put into effect,” he stated. Bawankule noted that several judgments from the Supreme Court and high courts have emphasized that documents such as the 7/12 extract, registration papers, or sale certificates are not always regarded as definitive proof of ownership.
However, property cards are widely accepted and deemed significant in courts and official systems throughout the country. Therefore, this system is also expected to alleviate property disputes and lengthy court proceedings, he added.
In addition to the Act, a revised proposal aimed at introducing vertical property cards for flatowners is anticipated to be examined by the cabinet in June. At present, the state provides property cards for urban land parcels and 7/12 extracts for rural regions. Nevertheless, there is no independent document that officially confirms the ownership of a specific flat within a multi-storey building.
To address this issue, the state has suggested new regulations under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966. State settlement commissioner Shailesh Nawal indicated that the current property card or 7/12 extract will continue to serve as the primary ownership document for the land parcel, while the vertical property card will function as an additional record for the individual unit.
