Bihar to offer doorstep property registration for citizens aged 75 and above
Senior citizens who wish to use the service must first book an appointment through Bihar's official e-registration portal.
For many people, registering a property is often a stressful experience. Long queues, piles of paperwork and repeated visits to government offices can make the process tiring, especially for senior citizens. In Bihar, however, that experience could soon become much simpler.
The state government has introduced a doorstep property registration service for residents aged 75 years and above. Under this initiative, elderly citizens can complete the registration of their land, flat or plot without stepping out of their homes. Officials believe the move will not only make the process more convenient but also reduce the influence of middlemen who have traditionally played a major role in property registrations.
The initiative, called Sabka Samman, Jeevan Aasan, was recently launched at the Hajipur registration office and is expected to be expanded across Bihar in phases, reported Indian Express.
HOW THE DOORSTEP SERVICE WORKS
Senior citizens who wish to use the service must first book an appointment through Bihar's official e-registration portal. Once the booking is confirmed and the applicant's age is verified, a Mobile Registration Unit visits the person's residence at the scheduled time.
The mobile team carries laptops with internet access, biometric scanners, webcams and digital signature devices. Officials verify the applicant's identity, check the required documents and complete the registration digitally at the doorstep.
After the process is completed, the registered property deed is sent to the applicant's registered mobile number as a secure PDF through SMS. The service is currently available through 10 registration offices, including Patna and Hajipur, and will gradually be extended to other districts.
A MOVE TO REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON BROKERS
Apart from improving convenience, the new system is designed to address a long-standing issue in the land registration process, i.e., the role of middlemen.
For years, many property owners relied on brokers to navigate complicated procedures. Elderly citizens and widows were often among the most affected, as visiting registration offices and completing formalities could be physically challenging.
Officials say the traditional paper-based process gave middlemen opportunities to charge unofficial fees, delay applications or raise unnecessary objections related to documents. In some cases, property values were allegedly manipulated to reduce stamp duty payments or demand illegal payments from applicants.
By shifting the registration process to a citizen's home, the government hopes to remove many of the situations where brokers were able to influence the process.
The online system also automatically calculates registration charges, stamp duty, e-challans and e-stamps. Since these calculations are generated digitally, there is less scope for arbitrary charges or hidden costs.
TOWARDS A MORE CITIZEN-FRIENDLY SYSTEM
The doorstep registration service is part of Bihar's wider push to modernise government services through technology. By bringing registration facilities directly to elderly citizens, the government hopes to make one of the most important legal processes simpler, faster and more transparent.
If the programme is successfully expanded across the state, it could not only improve access for senior citizens but also become a significant step towards reducing corruption, cutting paperwork and making property registration more efficient for those who need it the most.
For many people, registering a property is often a stressful experience. Long queues, piles of paperwork and repeated visits to government offices can make the process tiring, especially for senior citizens. In Bihar, however, that experience could soon become much simpler.
The state government has introduced a doorstep property registration service for residents aged 75 years and above. Under this initiative, elderly citizens can complete the registration of their land, flat or plot without stepping out of their homes. Officials believe the move will not only make the process more convenient but also reduce the influence of middlemen who have traditionally played a major role in property registrations.
The initiative, called Sabka Samman, Jeevan Aasan, was recently launched at the Hajipur registration office and is expected to be expanded across Bihar in phases, reported Indian Express.
HOW THE DOORSTEP SERVICE WORKS
Senior citizens who wish to use the service must first book an appointment through Bihar's official e-registration portal. Once the booking is confirmed and the applicant's age is verified, a Mobile Registration Unit visits the person's residence at the scheduled time.
The mobile team carries laptops with internet access, biometric scanners, webcams and digital signature devices. Officials verify the applicant's identity, check the required documents and complete the registration digitally at the doorstep.
After the process is completed, the registered property deed is sent to the applicant's registered mobile number as a secure PDF through SMS. The service is currently available through 10 registration offices, including Patna and Hajipur, and will gradually be extended to other districts.
A MOVE TO REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON BROKERS
Apart from improving convenience, the new system is designed to address a long-standing issue in the land registration process, i.e., the role of middlemen.
For years, many property owners relied on brokers to navigate complicated procedures. Elderly citizens and widows were often among the most affected, as visiting registration offices and completing formalities could be physically challenging.
Officials say the traditional paper-based process gave middlemen opportunities to charge unofficial fees, delay applications or raise unnecessary objections related to documents. In some cases, property values were allegedly manipulated to reduce stamp duty payments or demand illegal payments from applicants.
By shifting the registration process to a citizen's home, the government hopes to remove many of the situations where brokers were able to influence the process.
The online system also automatically calculates registration charges, stamp duty, e-challans and e-stamps. Since these calculations are generated digitally, there is less scope for arbitrary charges or hidden costs.
TOWARDS A MORE CITIZEN-FRIENDLY SYSTEM
The doorstep registration service is part of Bihar's wider push to modernise government services through technology. By bringing registration facilities directly to elderly citizens, the government hopes to make one of the most important legal processes simpler, faster and more transparent.
If the programme is successfully expanded across the state, it could not only improve access for senior citizens but also become a significant step towards reducing corruption, cutting paperwork and making property registration more efficient for those who need it the most.
