Odisha govt issues fresh SOP for registration of part plots, effective immediately

The Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Department has issued a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate the registration of part plots across the State.

The resolution, released on Monday, aims to address widespread confusion among Registering Officers. According to the department, many Registering Officers have not been fully conversant with provisions under the Registration Act, 1908, the Odisha Registration Rules, 1988, and the Registration (Odisha Amendment) Act, 2013.

The SOP supersedes all previous notifications and resolutions, providing comprehensive guidance on the registration of part plots.

Key Provisions for Registration

The SOP clarifies the legal and procedural requirements for different categories of properties:

• Rural Areas (outside urban or development authority limits): Subdivision of plots is generally permitted without conditions, except for ‘Jalasaya Kissam plots’, which can only be transferred as full plots.
• Urban Areas and Rural Areas within Development or Town Planning Authority limits: Subdivision generally requires written permission from the respective Development Authority or Town Planning and Improvement Trust. However, exemptions have been introduced under the 2025 Second Amendment Rules.

Exemptions for Certain Categories

The SOP allows part plot registration without prior permission under specific circumstances:

Family Subdivisions: Land or bye-plots divided among family members, as defined under the Odisha Land Reforms Act, 1960, can be registered freely.

Small Subdivisions: One-time exemption for subplots under 500 square metres, provided the land is not intended for real estate projects, with self-declaration sufficient for compliance.

Co-Sharer Subdivisions: Jointly inherited or acquired plots can be subdivided among co-owners with mutual consent, as long as the cumulative area does not exceed 500 square metres.

Pre-existing Small Plots: Subdivision of plots under 500 square metres recorded before the notification of the 2025 Amendment Rules is permitted.

Agricultural Plots: Subdivision is allowed for agricultural plots where land use remains agricultural. Executants must provide a self-declaration confirming the plot will be used solely for agriculture.

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Immediate Implementation

Registering officers are instructed to verify the authenticity of maps, boundaries, and self-declarations before registration.

All required documents must be in order, and self-declarations incorporated in deeds are to be preserved as part of the official record. Once the authority is satisfied that parties are present and admit execution of the deed, the document must be registered, subject to procedural compliance.

The notification added that the SOP comes into force immediately, with the government requiring strict adherence by all registering officers.