The Karnataka government’s new weekend property registration initiative commenced on a positive note, with over 800 documents registered statewide on June 1—the first Sunday following the introduction of the reform.
This initiative, designed to alleviate weekday congestion at sub-registrar offices, generated more than Rs 3 crore in revenue from stamp duty and registration fees in just that one day. Officials from the department of stamps and registration characterized the initial response as “decent” and “encouraging.” Some expressed optimism that participation will rise in the upcoming weeks.
In addition to reducing weekday traffic, the initiative aims to provide flexibility for working individuals, stated a department official. He mentioned that the department is contemplating launching awareness campaigns to promote this option. According to the scheme, at least one sub-registrar office in every district will remain operational on the second and fourth Saturdays, as well as all Sundays of the month.
Department data indicates that approximately 834 property documents were registered statewide on the inaugural day, including 60 associated with the farmer registration and unified beneficiary information system (FRUITS). Dharwad district recorded the highest number of registrations at 140, followed by Chitradurga with 95 and Bijapur (Vijayapura) with 69. In contrast, the five stamp and registration districts within Bengaluru Urban collectively recorded only 20 registrations. Karnataka comprises 35 registration districts, including five in Bengaluru; however, on June 1, only 32 districts provided property registration services.
No registrations occurred in Kodagu, Karwar, and Shivajinagar. P Sunil Kumar, inspector general of registration and commissioner of stamps (IGRCS), emphasized the reasoning behind this initiative. “The sub-registrar offices operating on the second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays will take a holiday on the subsequent Tuesday. Therefore, revenue collection will remain consistent. Our primary goal is to support the working class rather than to increase revenue,” Kumar stated.
He also mentioned that the department will oversee the scheme in the coming weeks to evaluate its effectiveness. “The department may take any necessary actions following the review to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative in the state,” he further stated. Officials observed that weekend registration has facilitated a smoother process for both buyers and sellers, particularly for those who had difficulty visiting sub-registrar offices during the week because of their busy schedules.