- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Thu, 15 May 2025 12:25 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a significant move to curb property fraud, the Uttar Pradesh government is set to introduce Aadhaar authentication for property registrations. The decision comes in response to rising cases of fraudulent registrations using fake identities. This new system aims to prevent unauthorised individuals from registering properties by impersonating the rightful owners.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Stamp and Registration, Ravindra Jaiswal, stated that under the current system, sub-registrars are not mandated to verify property ownership beyond a photocopy of the Aadhaar card. This loophole has allowed fraudulent activities to thrive. The new authentication process will ensure that the identity of the landowner is verified before registration, thereby reducing disputes.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to strengthen verification processes, including mandatory scrutiny of land-related documents. The government also plans to appoint "Registration Friends" — graduate computer professionals — to assist the public in the registration process. These assistants will help prepare registration documents and calculate fees such as stamp duty and registration charges.
In line with efforts to modernise the infrastructure, the government plans to upgrade sub-registrar offices across the state, many of which are currently lacking in basic facilities. Jaiswal mentioned that the goal is to make these offices as efficient and service-oriented as passport offices.
To improve service delivery, a front-office model will be implemented through a selected agency, though the minister clarified that this is not privatisation. “Our department generates revenue and cannot be privatised,” he said, responding to concerns raised by protesting lawyers in some districts.
Inspector General of Registration Sameer Verma informed that funding has already been approved for the construction of 48 new sub-registrar offices, including locations such as Sidhauli, Mau, Chitrakoot Sadar, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Mathura, and Shamli Sadar, among others.
In another reform, the state government is considering an immediate post-registration entry of the buyer’s name into land records, similar to systems in Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. This would prevent the resale of the same property by the same seller.
To regulate the sale of low-value stamp papers, the government is also planning to offer vendors a fixed commission of Rs 5 for each stamp paper worth Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, or Rs 100. Currently, vendors often charge buyers extra due to low margins. The new policy aims to stop overcharging.
Jaiswal stated that around 2 to 2.5 lakh stamp papers worth up to Rs 100 are sold daily. After the new system is implemented, strict action will be taken against vendors demanding more than the official price.