Action Decided on Fake Deed Registration Cases
Action Decided on Fake Deed Registration Cases
Puducherry: In response to the increasing cases of fake deed registrations, the Registration Department is preparing to issue stringent orders. Both parties involved in property transactions, whether buying or selling, are now required to appear before the sub-registrar's office.
Furthermore, during the registration process, photographs of both parties will be taken using a webcam, and their fingerprints will be recorded. This procedure will also apply to witnesses. Despite these measures, property buyers must still exercise caution due to the prevalence of fraud.
Instances of selling the same property multiple times using forged documents and attaching fake photographs through impersonation have been common. As a result, genuine property owners who have acquired assets with difficulty face significant distress.
Even when victims of land fraud file complaints at the registration office, significant action is seldom taken. Registration department officials conducting investigations may verify all documents, but despite recognizing the forgeries, they do not support the victims.
The officials often excuse themselves by stating, "We do not have the authority to cancel the fake registrations. Obtain a court order from the civil court and come back." Similarly, police officers do not file FIRs against those involved in land fraud. These outdated procedures are now being overhauled, granting the Registration Department full authority to file police complaints regarding fake documents.
A recent civil case ruling by judges at the Madurai High Court branch highlighted this additional authority. Following this, the Registration Department in Puducherry has sent a file to the Revenue Department to make decisions regarding the authority over fake and fraudulent deed registrations.
Investigation Process
Henceforth, if a complaint about a fake deed is raised, the District Registrar will directly investigate. Summons will be issued to both parties. Upon their appearance, the documents related to the property will be examined with the assistance of the Village Administrative Officer (VAO) and the surveyor of the area.
This investigation will be concluded swiftly. If the documents are found to be fake, a special order will be issued to note the fake deed, and a separate entry will be made in the records. Additionally, the police will be recommended to file an FIR against those involved in land fraud and fake deed registrations. Sub-registrars will be instructed to maintain separate records for such cases in registration offices.
Assurance
Granting additional authority to the Registration Department has instilled confidence among the victims. It is anticipated that land fraud cases will now be addressed more effectively within the Registration Department.