Despite protests, revised collector rates implemented in Karnal

Despite strong opposition from property dealers over the sharp hike in collector rates, the Karnal district administration has implemented the revised rates, resulting in the registration of 181 properties within two days of rollout.

The updated rates, initially scheduled for implementation from August 1, were delayed due to ongoing technical updates on the official portal Halris. They were finally made effective on Monday, following which 32 properties were registered on the first day and 149 on the second — across the five tehsils and three sub-tehsils in the district.

While officials claimed the process was “smooth and glitch-free”, real estate agents continued to voice concerns about the impact of the steep hike on market sentiment.

“There were no major glitches reported from any tehsil or sub-tehsil. All scheduled registrations were completed efficiently. We ensured the portal was fully updated before resuming services. The cooperation of our staff and the public made the transition seamless,” said Uttam Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Karnal.

He said any minor issues emerging in the coming days would be addressed on priority.

Anubhab Mehta, SDM Karnal, also confirmed that property registration resumed smoothly post-updation across the district.

Manish Kumar, District Revenue Officer (DRO), said, “Our teams worked overtime during the portal updation to ensure a hassle-free process. People came prepared with the new rates in mind, which helped us complete registrations without delay.”

Even residents acknowledged the administration’s preparedness. “I was expecting delays and confusion due to the new rates, but everything was well-organised. The officials were helpful, and I was done within an hour,” said Ramesh Kumar, a local resident.

However, property dealers remain deeply worried. In Karnal city, collector rates have increased by up to 70%, affecting residential, commercial and agricultural land values.

Dealers argue the hike is disproportionate and unprecedented, especially when compared to earlier average increases of around 10%.

“Earlier, hikes were done on an average by 10%, but this time, the increase is steep and unmanageable. Many deals have stalled. This will lead to informal agreements and discourage formal registrations,” said Shalindar Katyal, former president of the Karnal Property Dealers Association.

Vijay Batra, vice-president of the association, said, “A two-month notice period should have been given. Many transactions were at the finalisation stage and now hang in the balance.”

Shashi Pandhi, president of the Ansal Property Dealers Association, said, “In many areas, the hike is disproportionate. Common buyers cannot handle this sudden increase in capital gain implications.”

Despite the pushback, experts and officials argue that in several areas, real estate transactions were already taking place at or near the new rates.

Due to lower earlier collector rates, a portion of the transaction value was often paid in cash, helping buyers save on stamp duty and registration charges.

By raising the rates, authorities aim to bring transparency, increase formal registrations, and curb revenue leakage.