THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite the state govt’s efforts to simplify property registration by allowing citizens to prepare and register documents independently, the initiative has seen minimal uptake in the past nine years.
Since the introduction of the facility on March 1, 2016, through a notification by the inspector general of registrations, only 4,430 documents have been prepared and registered by citizens without the assistance of document writers or advocates.
This translates into an average of approximately 500 self-prepared registrations annually. Considering that roughly nine lakh documents are registered in the state each year, the figure represents a mere fraction of total registrations, highlighting the scheme’s underwhelming impact.
The district-wise distribution of self-prepared registrations further underscores the lack of widespread adoption. Thiruvananthapuram district recorded the highest number of such registrations, with 1,313 documents while Kasargod district reported the lowest, with only 40. Even in Ernakulam, a district witnessing a high volume of property registrations, the number of self-prepared documents stands at just 566, indicating a clear disconnect between the available facility and public usage.
The initiative, launched during the tenure of the previous Oommen Chandy-led UDF govt, aimed to streamline the registration process and reduce exploitation by middlemen. However, its introduction was met with strong opposition from document writers, who feared job losses. The subsequent LDF govt, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, considered withdrawing the facility due to these protests but ultimately decided against it.
Despite the govt’s continued support for the initiative, the low registration numbers suggest that the initial fears of document writers were, perhaps, unfounded. Registrations and archaeology minister Kadannappally Ramachandran addressed the issue in the assembly last week, stating that the figures demonstrate the lack of significant impact on document writers’ livelihoods.
In 2023, a joint meeting of revenue and registration ministers sought to revitalise the self-registration process by introducing 22 templates for various types of property transactions, including sales, partitions, partnerships, settlements and power of attorney. The aim was to simplify document preparation and make it more accessible to the public. However, these templates have proven insufficient to drive substantial change. The govt is currently working on expanding the range of available templates in an effort to further simplify the process and encourage greater public participation.
The continued low usage of the self-registration facility raises questions about the reasons behind public reluctance. Whether it stems from a lack of awareness, a preference for professional assistance or concerns about the complexity of the process, the govt faces a significant challenge in promoting and popularising this initiative. Until these underlying issues are addressed, the self-registration system will likely remain underutilised, failing to achieve its intended purpose of simplifying property registration for the citizens of the state.
