A new order of the Delhi government banning the fresh sale and purchase along with transfer of property in the unauthorised colonies of the city, situated on government land, has created panic amongst the property owners and sellers. Due to the order issued last week, property transaction has fallen by more than 75 per cent in most of the sub-registrar offices.
The office order, issued by the Divisional Commissioner, said that a no objection certificate has to be obtained from the sub divisional magistrate (SDM) or higher authorities on the status of the land before a transaction is carried out. The order said that in the future, no fresh instrument of transfer (General Power of Attorney, conveyance, sale, gift, mortgage, exchange deeds etc) will be registered without due permission from the authorities concerned.
Development and Revenue Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan confirmed that such an order has been issued. "This is to streamline the sale and purchases in these colonies. We do not want any fresh transaction on properties situated on government land," he said.
While the government order is limited to the over 400 unauthorised colonies in Delhi on government land, the sub-registrars have stopped registration even in the other unauthorised colonies fearing that a mistake might creep in and they would be penalised at a later date.
"Property transaction which was more that 50 every day, has now come down to around 10. As obtaining no objection from the authorities is a tough task, the transactions in all unauthorised colonies have almost come to a halt," said a sub-registrar in outer Delhi.
{{/usCountry}}"Property transaction which was more that 50 every day, has now come down to around 10. As obtaining no objection from the authorities is a tough task, the transactions in all unauthorised colonies have almost come to a halt," said a sub-registrar in outer Delhi.
{{/usCountry}}Ironically, there is no definition of what constitutes a "government land". The Urban Development Department of the Delhi government had earlier sent a missive to the Union Urban Development ministry seeking clarification on what constitutes a government land. So far, no one in the government is clear on this. Moreover, there is no reliable data on unauthorised colonies on private land, gram sabha land and government land.
Email Amitabh Shukla: ashukla@hindustantimes.com