HC issues stay order on e-registration system of land deeds

Bhubaneswar: Orissa High Court has issued stay order on e-registration of land documents as Information Technology (IT) Act is yet to be amended by the State. It had been alleged that online registration of deeds without amendment in IT Act, Evidence Act and Registration Act is illegal.

Not only in Bhubaneswar, IL&FS Technologies Ltd (ITL) employees are registering land deeds at 185 Sub-Registrar offices across Odisha. The court issued stay order on this process and on effectiveness and guidelines of e-Dharani application software developed by IL&FS. Such an order of the court has raised question on making the e-registration system mandatory.

Earlier on January 4, 2010, the State Government had introduced the e-Dharani programme by signing an agreement with IL&FS for online registration of land deeds. The agreement was in force for five years which was extended for two more years.

Later in June this year, Odisha Government renewed the agreement for five more years.