The Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday passed the Registration (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, paving the way for property registrations at sub-registrar offices without the physical presence of certain parties, such as government bodies or banks. Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the move aims to simplify procedures and integrate technology, thereby reducing human intervention in property registration.
A key feature is the introduction of digital signatures for property registrations originating from trusted sources such as the BDA, KIADB, Housing Board, tahsildars, and nationalised banks. For example, if a BDA officer registers a property for an allottee or a bank confirms a loan repayment, physical verification or appearance will no longer be required.
The Bill also allows electronic presentation of documents, eliminating the need for physical submission and minimising fraud risks by ensuring documents come directly from verified sources.
However, Gowda clarified that private sale transactions between individuals will still require in-person appearances, with stricter rules in place. Any conveyance must now be backed by a registered General Power of Attorney (GPA), ending the practice of using unregistered GPAs that often led to fraud.
The Assembly also passed the Karnataka Land Reforms and Certain Other Law (Amendment) Bill, which removes the need for land conversion when agricultural plots are used for renewable energy projects. Additionally, up to two acres of agricultural land can be automatically converted for MSME projects.