Govt amends rules to check misuse of stamp duty rebate

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 17

The alleged large-scale misuse of a scheme meant to empower women by giving a rebate on stamp duty if property is bought in their name has forced the state government to act tough.

If the same property is transferred back in the name of a male relative, the government will claim back the 2 per cent rebate availed at the time of property registration.

The decision was taken by the Revenue Department after misuse of the rebate was reported by patwaris and tehsildars at a recent meeting.

Revenue officials had reported that properties were first registered in the name of women to avail the rebate and later, transferred in the name of a male relative (husband, son or brother). The transfer of property between relatives is free in the state.

While a stamp duty of 6 per cent is charged for property registration/transfer in the name of a man, it is only 4 per cent in the case of a woman.

In cases of joint ownership of property at the time of registration (both man and woman), 1 per cent rebate on stamp duty is given.

Official sources said in order to avail the rebate of 2 per cent — announced by the previous Akali-BJP government — there was a surge in properties being registered in the name of women. However, once the then government notified the free transfer of properties within blood relatives and/or to spouse in 2015, the misuse started.

Revenue Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaraia said, “Initially, we are keeping a time frame of one year as the minimum gap for property registered in a woman’s name from being transferred in the name of a male relative,” he said, adding that those who wished to transfer the property in the name of a male relative would have to pay an additional stamp duty of 2 per cent.