Odisha Government to Amend Real Estate Laws for Simplified Sale Deed Registration
The Odisha state government is set to make amendments to several real estate laws in a bid to simplify the process of registering sale deeds for plots and apartments. The move comes after the government acknowledged the obstacles that citizens were facing when attempting to register their properties. By making changes to the Odisha Real Estate Regulation and Development Act of 2016, the Odisha Apartment Ownership and Management Act of 2023, and other related laws concerning development authorities, the government aims to streamline the registration process.
At a recent meeting of stakeholders, Suresh Pujari, the Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management, highlighted the challenges faced by citizens and the government due to the current registration process. Not only are citizens struggling to register their sale deeds, but the government itself is losing out on significant revenue from stamp duty and registration fees. Pujari assured that the necessary amendments would be made to the rules and regulations to alleviate these issues.
The registration of sale deeds for apartments and land in Odisha had experienced setbacks in 2022 following a directive from the Orissa High Court. The court ordered the Inspector General of Revenue to ensure compliance with all rules at the sub-registrar level. However, the registration of sale deeds for apartments resumed with the enactment of the Odisha Apartment Ownership and Management Act in May of 2023. Despite the reopening of the registration process, the numbers remained relatively low, primarily due to the requirement of an occupancy certificate and an association of allottees’ certificate to proceed with the process.
Bimalendu Pradhan, a renowned real estate expert, shed light on the challenges associated with the registration process. He noted that many apartments in the city lack the necessary occupancy certificates, which inevitably lead to delays in registration and re-registration. Pradhan also mentioned that certain sub-registrars had facilitated the registration of deeds in violation of the rules, subsequently resulting in their dismissal. To mitigate these challenges, he suggested that the government should introduce a regularization scheme for existing buildings. Pradhan emphasized that regularization is the only viable solution to resolve the hindrances plaguing the sale deed registration process.
With the planned amendments to the real estate laws, the Odisha government is taking an affirmative step towards simplifying the sale deed registration process. It is expected that the changes will soon be implemented, benefiting both the citizens and the government. By addressing the existing obstacles, the Odisha state government hopes to ensure a smoother and more efficient registration process, enabling property owners to register their sale deeds without unnecessary delays or complications.
