Pune: Associations and stakeholders in Maharashtra have called for urgent corrections to the online property registration system, as the Centre calls for suggestions to replace the 117-year-old Registration Act with a new digital framework.The department of land resources has invited inputs on a draft bill proposing complete online property registration and mandatory digital filing of key documents — such as the agreement to sell, power of attorney and sale certificates. The system envisions Aadhaar-based authentication, electronic document storage and integration with govt databases to curb fraud.Several states have started to prepare for digital registration, but face challenges regarding infrastructure, timelines and system integration before a rollout.Maharashtra officials said they will soon submit suggestions reflecting ongoing implementations, but stress the need for departmental coordination and technical readiness. “We will send our inputs shortly,” said a senior revenue official.Meanwhile, associations and citizen activists have flagged several concerns, including cybersecurity risks related to Aadhaar OTP verification, name formatting mismatches and lack of authorised service providers.The coalition highlighted vulnerabilities in the proposed Aadhaar-based OTP system and recommended alternative authentication methods such as email verification, biometric scanning or iris recognition. The alternatives are especially relevant for NRIs, who often face issues with phone-based OTPs.Name discrepancies between Aadhaar records and submitted documents have led to repeated application rejections. Stakeholders suggest the system should either accept names exactly as in Aadhaar or allow users to correct formatting errors.The group advocates integrating the new registration system with land records, municipal tax databases and electricity billing systems to facilitate automatic ownership verification and prevent frauds.Language accessibility remains a priority, with demands that rental agreements be issued in Marathi, the official state language. Currently, most such documents are available only in English, inconveniencing many.Technical challenges persist, especially in rural areas with poor internet connectivity. The association also raised concerns over frequent failures in the Pay2IGR payment gateway, causing transaction delays and administrative confusion.While officials from the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) acknowledge the issues, no formal response or revised implementation plan has been announced. Sources indicate ongoing stakeholder consultations and potential improvements before the final rollout.Meanwhile, the department of land resources emphasised the need for a modern and future-ready registration system. “Growing use of technology, evolving socio-economic practices and increasing reliance on registered documents for due diligence and legal processes necessitate a robust framework,” it said.The draft bill proposes clear grounds for registration officers to refuse applications and allows govts to issue rules for cancellation of registrations, ensuring compliance with principles of natural justice. The provisions aim to maintain the legal reliability of registered documents.The bill introduces new roles — such as assistant inspectors general of registration — and streamlines appointment processes for registrars during vacancies to modernise the registration structure. It also empowers govts to align rule-making with local governance.The Centre has invited suggestions from states and stakeholders till June 25, as it works towards implementing a comprehensive, secure and user-friendly digital registration system.
