Bhubaneswar, 08 July (H.S.): In a major governance reform aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency and accountability in land registration services, the Odisha government has decided to implement a completely paperless and cashless land registration system across all registration offices in the state.

The decision was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari at Lok Seva Bhawan.

During the meeting, the minister directed officials to expedite the implementation of the new system, stating that the reforms are intended to make land registration more transparent, citizen-friendly and free from corruption by reducing physical interaction and eliminating cash transactions.

Under the proposed system, buyers and sellers will no longer be required to visit the registration office to submit applications once they mutually agree on a land transaction. Instead, the entire application process will be completed online in advance.

The parties will only need to appear before the registering authority at the time of execution of the sale deed for identity verification and completion of other statutory formalities.

As part of the reforms, the government has decided to abolish the existing provision that permits cash payments of up to ₹15,000 towards registration-related charges.

All payments associated with land registration will now be made exclusively through digital payment modes, ensuring complete financial transparency and reducing the scope for irregularities.

The proposed system will also make the registration process entirely paperless. Applicants will be required to upload all mandatory documents online, including identity proofs of the buyer and seller, land details, Encumbrance Certificate (EC) and other prescribed records.

Officials said the digital platform is expected to reduce paperwork, improve service delivery and significantly cut procedural delays.

To further strengthen transparency and ensure impartial scrutiny, the government is considering a mechanism under which verification and examination of registration documents can be carried out digitally by any registration office in Odisha, instead of being restricted to the office where the document is proposed to be registered.

The move is expected to improve efficiency and minimise the possibility of local-level interference in the verification process.

The meeting also decided that only duly registered deed writers and advocates will be authorised to prepare and submit registration documents. Their registration details must be provided during the online application process.

Similarly, advocates, stamp vendors and deed writers involved in the registration process will be required to be registered with the Revenue Department.

The Revenue Minister directed the department to finalise and notify a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) at the earliest to facilitate the smooth implementation of the reformed land registration system across the state.

The review meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, Dr. Arvind Padhee, Inspector General of Registration P. Anvesha Reddy, and senior officials of the Revenue Department, National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC).

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda