Delhi Government to Overhaul Property Registration Process and Implement New Circle Rates in Unauthorised Colonies

The Delhi Government is poised to implement several key reforms concerning property registration and valuation across the capital. These changes are intended to streamline the process, reduce corruption, and address long-standing issues, particularly in unauthorised colonies.

Streamlining Property Registration

Among the proposed changes, property owners will soon have the flexibility to register their documents at any sub-registrar office within Delhi, irrespective of the property's jurisdiction. This marks a departure from the current system, where registration is tied to specific sub-registrar offices based on location. The number of sub-registrar offices has already been increased from 22 to 29 in preparation for these reforms.

A significant development also includes the introduction of an online, home-based property registration facility. This digital initiative aims to allow applicants to complete the entire registration process from their mobile devices or computers. Physical interaction with the sub-registrar will be minimised, primarily for digital signatures, after which documents will be directly deposited into the buyer's DigiLocker. This move is expected to enhance convenience and transparency.

Revision of Circle Rates

A critical component of the upcoming reforms involves the revision of circle rates, especially in Delhi's unauthorised colonies. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta confirmed that the government has completed the necessary groundwork for this long-pending revision, which will be implemented shortly. The circle rate, or ready reckoner rate, is the minimum value per square foot or metre set by the state government for property transactions. Stamp duty and registration charges are typically calculated on the higher of the transaction value or the prevailing circle rate, as stipulated by the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, and state-specific stamp acts. The revision of these rates in unauthorised colonies is expected to regularise property valuations in these areas, impacting the associated stamp duty and registration charges.

These policy adjustments reflect the government's commitment to improving civic amenities and infrastructure in these regions, with substantial development works already underway in several unauthorised colonies.