BBMP to digitise individual property records on priority

BBMP has so far digitised 22 lakh property records and is in the process of digitising another 80,000: Munish Moudgil

In a move that would facilitate property owners in Bengaluru who need to register but whose property records have not yet been digitised, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will digitise individual property records on priority if they contact the Assistant Revenue Officer (ARO).

Munish Moudgil, Special Commissioner (Revenue), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), announced this at #THTalksBengaluru, where he responded to readers’ questions on e-khata live online here on Thursday (December 12).

The BBMP has so far digitised 22 lakh property records coming under its jurisdiction and is still in the process of digitising about 80,000 more. Non-digitisation of these property records has become an obstacle to carrying out sale transactions, leaving a section of owners worried. The BBMP has been flooded with requests to devise a solution for the same. The Karnataka government has made e-khata mandatory for registration properties.

Many readers who sent questions to Mr. Moudgil expressed concern about this and requested that he provide a solution to register properties. During the interaction, he made this announcement, much to the relief of such property owners.

Mr. Moudgil said as the BBMP is still in the process of digitisation of these property records, but e-khata is mandatory for registration, the civic body will be providing an option of digitising individual property records. The property owners whose draft of e-khata is not uploaded in the BBMP’s www.bbmpeAasthi.karnataka.gov.in website can approach the ARO.

The ARO will pull out the applicant’s property record. All the property registers are scanned, and from these files, his/her property details will be digitised. The AROs are empowered to carry out this digitisation. After the digitisation, the normal procedure has to be followed to secure the final e-khata, and later land transactions can be done. This will benefit thousands of owners who are in need of performing sales.

E-khatas for NRIs

The BBMP will include the PAN card as an option to apply for e-khata for NRI owners. This will help those who do not have the Indian passport, driving licence or voter IDs.

Initially, the BBMP made Aadhaar mandatory for property owners to download e-khata, but then, realising that many NRIs do not possess this document, it made it optional. In a city like Bengaluru, many NRIs purchase properties as a means of investment and often sell them. As they reside in foreign nations, Aadhaar may not be necessary for them. Hence, the mandate was lifted.

NRIs who wish to get e-khata were asked to submit a passport, driving licence, or voter ID card. During the live streaming, a reader, U.R. Rao, asked how NRI owners who do not have these documents can get e-khata.

Mr. Rao said after he executed the settlement deed in favour of his son, a US citizen who does not possess these documents but only has a PAN card. Mr. Moudgil said the BBMP would include the PAN card to apply for e-khata for those who do not have other documents. The NRIs can submit PAN details for processing this vital document. 

One Aadhaar for many properties

The new system currently does not allow seeding of a single Aadhaar number for multiple properties. This means that if one individual has multiple properties mentioned in a single sale deed, they are unable to secure a single e-khata for multiple properties as seeding of Aadhaar is not allowed. However, the BBMP is making changes to allow seeding.

Published - December 12, 2024 09:59 pm IST