Kerala to implement Central Registration Amendment Act 2001

Kochi, Nov 9 (UNI) The Kerala Government has decided to implement the Central Registration and other Related Laws (Amendment) Act 2001 in the state to check rampant malpractices in the sale and purchase of property, State Registration Minister S Sharma said today.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Sharma said that under the Central law, it was mandatory to affix the photographs and the thumb impressions of both the seller and purchaser of property in the registration documents.

Stating that the draft documents under the act would be finalised by the government by January-February next year, Mr Sharma said the implementation of the act would help to halt malpractices such as 'benami' transactions, rampant in Ernakulam district and other areas of the state.

The state government would also make it mandatory for people to produce identification documents, such as Election Commission ID Cards, at the time of registration.

Stating that the state exchequer was losing a lot of revenue by way of registration fee, Mr Sharma said once the Central Registration Act was implemented in Kerala, it would become compulsory for all to register the sale and purchase of property.

He said the government will also introduce digital image printers in the Registration offices to cut down on inefficiency and corruption. The first such printer would be installed in Ernakulam on November 24, he added.

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