The Centre is all set to bring a major change in h...

The Centre is all set to bring a major change in how property documents are registered with its plans to replace the old Registration Act, which has been in use since 1908, with a new act. The Ministry of Rural Development and Land Resources has published a draft of the Registration Bill 2025 for feedback from citizens and experts who can send their suggestions within 30 days. Later the government will come up with the final Bill which will be presented in Parliament for approval. Once passed, this new law will make the entire process of registering property documents online and paperless and help people avoid long queues and the hassle of taking tokens at registrar offices. Buyers, sellers and witnesses won’t even need to visit the office in person. Digital verification One of the important changes in the new Bill is that all property documents will be registered electronically. The government will use Aadhaar-based digital identification to verify documents and will also make sure that fake documents are not registered. If any document is found to contain false information, the government can cancel its registration. The new system will cover several types of property documents, such as sale deeds, gift deeds, power of attorney, agreements to sell, and mortgage papers. Registration officers will have clear responsibilities to ensure security and transparency. Mandatory details In addition, the government has introduced a new rule making it mandatory to include the exact location coordinates—latitude and longitude—in all property transactions, including open plots. This rule will come into force from June 1. Documents without these details will not be accepted. GPS map and camera apps will also be used to make it easier to capture these details. Measures will also be put in place to prevent fraud through false property photos or incorrect measurements to cheat the government of stamp duty. From April 1, property documents must also include a full-view colour photo of the property attached to the document. The parties involved must also sign on the photo to confirm its authenticity. Ahmedabad Mirror