E-khata mandate for property registration causing trouble for many in Mangaluru, says MLA

The government integrating Kaveri-2 software adopted by offices of sub-registrars with e-khata software adopted by urban local bodies in a hurry without studying the pros and cons has created many issues for many people in the jurisdiction of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC). They are not able to register their properties, said D. Vedavyasa Kamath, MLA, Mangaluru City South, on Wednesday.

The government integrating Kaveri-2 software, adopted by offices of sub-registrars, with the e-khata software, adopted by urban local bodies, in a hurry without studying the pros and cons has created a slew of problems for many people in the jurisdiction of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC). They are not able to register their properties, said D. Vedavyasa Kamath, MLA, Mangaluru City South, on Wednesday.

Addressing presspersons here, the MLA said that properties in all 60 wards of the MCC have not been digitised and hence are not available online. On the other hand, the government has made producing e-khata, issued by the MCC, mandatory for the registration of properties. As the two software have been integrated and whenever people went for the registration of properties in the office of sub-registrar in the city, Kaveri-2 software could not access properties that have not been digitised, proving to be a hindrance in the way of registration of properties, it has forced people to run from pillar to post to get their issues addressed.

The MLA said that there are issues in getting e-khatas. Whenever the location of properties are being digitally captured for getting e-khata, mismatches are being reported in names of wards and roads with the original documents. It is said to be a consequence of technical issues. This has added to people’s trouble in acquiring e-khata. On the other hand, not digitising all properties in the corporation limits is also getting in the way of getting e-khata.

Mr. Kamath said that the government should have done its homework before integrating the software. Instead, the two programmes were linked overnight without any preparation.

Now, owing to technical issues, the online system is not allowing the registration of documents pertaining to deed of sale of undivided rights, deed of sale of warg rights and release deed rights. The current system does not allow the release of undivided rights to a particular family member based on family consent unless the entire ownership is transferred.

The MLA said that the government should have integrated the two software programmes on a pilot basis, restricting the trial to one or two offices of sub-registrars. After studying the issues and pros and cons, the integration could have been extended to the State level.

Mr. Kamath said that people owning farm lands within the city limits are now not able to sell their properties as registration of deed of sale of agricultural property is not happening. If farmlands are to be sold, the properties will have to be converted as commercial ones first. Then farmlands will not remain agricultural properties. It has taken away the basic rights of people owning farmlands to purchase or sell other farmland.