Curation Team
CHENNAI: Buying an apartment or plot in Tamil Nadu may soon become a presenceless process, with the state registration department preparing a system where neither buyers nor developers will need to visit sub-registrar offices (SROs) for first-sale registrations.
In the first phase, the facility will be optional and gradually made mandatory. Officials said the move is aimed at easing congestion at SROs, many of which function from cramped offices with little space or parking for visitors. Every year, about 36 lakh documents are registered in Tamil Nadu, of which 5.5 lakh are Memoranda of Deposit of Title Deed (MOD) and 3.5 lakh are receipt deeds. On average, 26,000 apartments are registered every month, with Chennai topping the list. The state has 582 SROs.
Two years ago, presenceless registration was introduced for MODs, receipt deeds, and residential lease deeds (within five years), but it was not mandatory. Currently, only about 30,000 MODs and receipt deeds are done online. Under the proposed system, once the seller and developer complete the online registration, the respective SRO will access the application, verify the details, and clear the documents. To enable this, the department will provide software to top builders and developer associations.
“We plan to roll it out by the end of this year. We are sure that this will cut down corruption, delays and save time. However, it won’t be mandatory now,” said a senior official from the registration department.
“We have to integrate Aadhaar-based authentication, including iris and fingerprint verification, into the process. The developers will have to purchase fingerprint and eyeball scanners alone. These aspects are being looked into and discussed,” the official added.
Teams from Tamil Nadu have studied similar systems in Madhya Pradesh and other states. The department has also held meetings with banks to explore whether MODs and receipt deeds can be mandatorily brought under the presenceless framework. “Only 30,000 MOD and receipt deeds are registered through online mode now,” the official said.
The proposal, however, has triggered concerns over safety. With multiple complaints of fraudulent registrations and property disputes already pending across the state, many fear that removing physical presence could open the door to manipulation and forgery.
“This move will make the entire process faster and far more convenient for buyers. For developers too, it reduces the hassle of coordinating multiple visits to sub-registrar offices. What we need is a robust system with strong safeguards so that trust is maintained,” said S Ramprabhu, chairman of the DTCP committee at the Builders Association of India.
