CHANDIGARH: Punjab govt on Tuesday announced to do away with requirement of no objection certificate (NOC) for registration of land and property, in a move aimed at “larger public interest” following complaints about delays in issuance of NOCs ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann said that the decision had been taken to save people from facing inconvenience. He added that the legal mechanism for the decision had already been worked out and details would be made public soon. “The decision has been taken in due consultation with general public and is aimed solely at ensuring their benefit,” he said.
The CM said, “People from both urban and rural areas in the state were facing a lot of problems due to non-availability of NOCs. This resulted in non-execution of registration of land, creating a lot of problems for the common man. Now, the problem will be solved as the requirement of NOC for the registration of land and property has been abolished by the state govt.”
Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema posted on ‘X’, “CM Bhagwant Mann has decided to do away with the requirement of NOC for the registration of properties. Complete details will be shared shortly. The AAP govt will continue to take pro-people decisions aimed at simplifying the administration and governance.”
Despite the state govt’s claims to have reduced the issuance time for NOCs from 21 to 15 working days, pendency of applications for NOCs for regularisation of the plots had been going up in the state.
In 2015, then SAD-BJP govt had also decided to do away with the requirement to procure NOC from housing and urban development department or municipal authorities for registration of plot deeds in unauthorised residential and commercial developments in the state. At that time, a system was introduced wherein plot and building owners in unauthorised developments could submit a self-declaration averring they have submitted necessary fee to regularise their property following which the sale deed of the same can be registered.
Three years later, however, revenue department issued a notification directing all deputy commissioners in the state, sub-registrars and joint sub-registrars of properties not to register sale and transfer deeds of properties in any colony without the NOC issued by the “competent authority in the housing department.”
