BBMP to remove blanket rejection option from e-khata system

BBMP to eliminate AROs' option to reject e-khata applications, aiming to curb corruption and streamline property records.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will soon remove the option provided to assistant revenue officials (AROs) to reject e-khata applications submitted by property owners. This move is seen as the civic body’s attempt to stem corruption at lower levels.

It follows The Hindu’s report of multiple rejections by AROs within two days of filing applications. At present, the AROs have a blanket option to reject applications, which was introduced to reject applications submitted by impersonators. 

The BBMP rolled out a faceless, contactless, online e-khata issuance system on October 1. So far, it has issued over 50,000 final e-khatas and digitised about 22 lakh property records.

The civic body will also launch another website for residents to apply for fresh e-khata for properties that do not have manual khata. The records of properties that do not have manual khatas are not digitised by the BBMP. According to a rough calculation, there are about 5 lakh such properties.

BBMP Special Commissioner (Revenue) Munish Moudgil, talking to The Hindu, said: “We will remove the blanket option for rejection. The rejection was used in the system for the sole purpose of rejecting impersonated property records. If more applications are being rejected, then it will create problems. Hence, we will create a single drop-down option for rejection under ‘impersonation’.”

“The documents submitted by the applicants and the robust system will help identify impersonators easily. On the other hand, after turning off this option, if AROs have any apprehensions (apart from impersonation) then the AROs have to call the applicants to verify documents. Without physical appearance, the AROs cannot reject the applications,” Mr. Moudgil said.

A property owner whose application was rejected but later approved after an intervention by a higher official welcomed this move. He said this would stop frivolous rejections by AROs. “We have a suspicion that some rejections are deliberate to collect bribes from the applicants. Now, this will be stopped. I thank the BBMP for making this change,” said the owner.