Property registration at post offices

In what could be the biggest egovernment initiative yet, the Karnataka Stamps and Registration Department is considering roping in over 2000 post offices and an equal number of public sector banks across the state for property registrations. On a pilot basis, the department is planning to launch the facility in 75 post offices in Bangalore by next month. The department has been running the pilot project for the e-stamping initiative at four sub-registrar offices in the city, for about a year.

This new project means that those buying property will not have to go through the hassle of paying the registration fee and stamp duty at the sub-registrar’s office, through cash or demand drafts. A public sector undertaking, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL) would be in charge of keeping a centralised record of all e-stamping documents.

CRACKDOWN ON BENAMI REGISTRATIONS

The government will also gain from the expansion of the e-stamping initiative, as the unique identification number assigned to each transaction cannot be duplicated.

Inspector General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps, KR Niranjan, told Express that the department in association with SHCIL, is implementing e-stamping to put an end to illegal benami registrations and for plugging revenue leaks.

“The post offices have expressed interest and are waiting for a final approval by the state finance department, following which the matter would come up before the Cabinet for a final approval. This process should take about a month’s time,’’ he said.

POST OFFICES ASK FOR MORE

The postal department is seeking to charge customers extra for the e-stamping as it fears that the commission they get from the government would be negligible. The postal department wants to charge Rs 10 as an additional fee from customers for e-stamping denominations up to Rs 100, and Rs 15 for e-stamping denominations above Rs 100. This is in addition to 0.15 per cent commission per transaction, that post offices get from the government for the e-stamping.

Niranjan said that the government is considering the postal department’s request to allow it to collect the use-fee from customers.