Amendments to Registration Act to Check Violations in Property Registration—Maharashtra

Maharashtra government is ready to revise the provisions of the Registration Act to keep a check on any infringement of law during property registration.

The Maharashtra government has suggested modifications in the Registration Act of 1908 to allow more power to sub-registrars to prevent law infringement. So, Section 18 (a) provides the sub-registrars with the right to refuse registration of documents if they fail to comply with central or state law.

An official from the property registration department said," Section 18 (a) will be incorporated in the said act to give sub-registrars the power to refuse registration of certain documents relating to transactions prohibited by any central or state law".

Section 21 of the Registration Act will also be modified, which will authorise the state government to bring the rules crucial for describing the property in the paper.

The modifications in the Registration Act follow the infringement of the Maharashtra Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act of 2016 and the Maharashtra Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holding Act of 1947.

The State Assembly gave a green signal to the amendment on 25 July 2023 and the State Council on 3 August 2023. The approval from the Governor is awaited, after which this bill will be delivered to the Union Government and the President for their assent.

The modifications in the Registration Act aspire to reduce law violations and provide buyers transparency.