TV
In a case of serious administrative jeopardy, residents of Khordha district continue to face severe hurdles as crucial land records and registry data for large parts of the district remain housed in neighbouring Puri even after 32 years of the two districts being separated.
This mismatch between jurisdiction and documentation has triggered recurring problems for residents, especially in the Jatni sub-registrar zone, where real estate transactions are becoming increasingly complex and error-prone.
Khordha’s Registry Caught Between Two Districts
Khordha became an independent district in 1993, following its bifurcation from Puri. Yet, the land records and registry documents covering transactions from 1962 to 1974 have not been officially transferred to the Khordha Sub-Registrar Office in Jatni.
“The situation is frustrating. Every time we need an EC for registry, we must travel to Puri and still risk receiving incomplete or outdated information,” said a Khordha resident.
Despite the existence of a Sub-Registrar Office in Jatni, the record room for Khordha district still remains in Puri. As a result, anyone looking to obtain an Encumbrance Certificate (EC) must make the journey from Jatni to Puri, often at significant cost and inconvenience.
The core of the issue lies in the non-transfer of records dated prior to 1975, many of which are critical for verifying property ownership and past transactions.
“We are treated as second-class citizens in Puri and grapple with corruption, middlemen, and long queues,” alleged Biplab Keshari Satapathy, a Jatni resident.
Legal Loopholes and Manual Errors
Residents allege that the manual issuance of ECs in Puri without thorough verification has led to numerous irregularities.
In some cases, certificates have been issued for plots that were already mortgaged, leading to post-registry legal challenges. Adding to the concern is the lack of digitization of older land records, making the verification process vulnerable to human error and manipulation.
Residents Demand Return of Record Room to Jatni
As such, there is a growing public demand that Puri’s old land records pertaining to Khordha be transferred immediately to the Jatni Sub-Registrar Office. This demand is not new, but it has gained fresh momentum with increasing real estate activity in Khordha, especially in zones like Jatni and Pipili.
The current Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) of Khordha, Saphalya Mandit Pradhan, acknowledged the problem and assured that steps are being initiated.
“We will coordinate with the Puri district administration to facilitate the transfer of historical land records,” he said, adding that prior Khordha Collector Chanchal Rana was also aware of the issue and could now help resolve it in his new role as Puri’s Collector.
