Software to prevent multiple property registrations mooted

The Revenue Department is in the process of getting a software developed to prevent multiple registration of properties, according to Deputy Chief Minister K.S. Eshwarappa.

Replying to Janata Dal (Secular) member E. Krishnappa, who raised the issue during the zero hour in the Legislative Council, Mr. Eshwarappa said the new software was being developed under Bhoomi , the project that looks into computerisation of land records. The main intention was to help build proper records for the properties and maintain a registry, he said.

Earlier, members cutting across party affiliations expressed concern over the increasing menace of multiple registration of properties especially in and around Bangalore.

Deliberate mistakes in records:

The members alleged that there was large-scale corruption among officials dealing with land records. If the officials were not adequately bribed, they would deliberately induce mistakes in the land records so that they have to be approached again, they said.

Citing his personal experience, Mr. Krishnappa said when he refused to pay bribe for getting a khata for the two-acre land bought by his wife Jagadamba, the secretary of the village panchayat concerned had mentioned her identity as Jagadamba, wife of “Late” E. Krishnappa.

But the officials responsible for such mistakes were getting away as they would blame the mistakes either on computers or term them as mere typographical errors. The government should bring in a system of fixing accountability for such mistakes and punishing the guilty as such mistakes would affect the property owners, the members demanded.