Date:06/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/06/stories/2009010656030400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Make registration process transparent’

Special Correspondent

YSR sore over complaints against Registration and Stamps Department

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Monday expressed his displeasure over receipt of numerous complaints that the Registration and Stamps Department was not being transparent.

Though things in the department were a lot better than in the past, there was scope for improvement to make the system more transparent, Dr. Reddy said while inaugurating a two-day workshop to coincide with the centenary celebrations of the Registration Act, 1908, here.

Inherent risks

Citing a specific instance where the registration procedures were flawed, he said that common public were only getting their documents registered and not the properties themselves. This exposed them to the danger of not having value or authenticity to their properties established by the government. Weaker sections would be the most affected if establishment of property rights were flawed. The Chief Minister asked officials to explore ways to improve registration procedures by studying models in other countries.

Commissioner and Inspector General of Registration and Stamps B. Aravinda Reddy said a proposal by the department to cancel registration of properties that were registered by fraudulent methods was pending with the government. He regretted that the hike in values of properties following a major boom in real estate market in the last few years was being misused in transactions.