 "Maharashtra plans law for conclusive land titling system")
Maharashtra is in the midst of formulating a land title Bill, to minimise property disputes. This comes in the wake of the legislative Assembly in Rajasthan passing (last week) a legislation with the same aim, on urban land. The city of Pune will see a pilot project. The city is also among the 20 selected by the Centre for the Smart Cities project.
A senior minister, who did not want to be named, due to the ongoing legislature session, told this newspaper: “Once a property is registered with the proposed land titling centre, officials there would conduct a detailed title search, including past ownership, transactions and litigation history (if any), to establish non-encumbrance on the land. Thus, the buyer would have a clear understanding of the ownership issue and past record before purchase. This is a step towards guaranteed land titles. The government may consider handing over the title certificate to the owner in demat form.”
A revenue department official hoped the proposed legislation would reduce around half the title disputes currently pending at the high court here. It would also simplify the maintenance of property records.
He said the government might consider initial titling for land under the control of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation.
“Titling of other lands to be considered is being discussed and will thereafter be incorporated in the draft Bill,” he added.
