To curb property frauds, state to install CCTVs at revenue offices

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 11

Just about a fortnight after Chief Secretary was asked to explain why high definition video cameras should not be installed inside and outside every registration office to prevent property registration frauds, the state government has decided to go ahead with the process.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was told that a centralised digital video recorder would also be made available with coloured printers.

Appearing before Justice Amol Rattan Singh, the state counsel produced a communication addressed to Punjab Director (Land Records), Director (Directorate of Government Reforms), the State Information Officer and National Informatics Centre. It stated that high resolution cameras would be installed by March 31, 2020, inside and outside the office of the sub registrars across the state. It, at the same time, added that 12 would to be installed by March 12, and the remaining by September 30.

“Whereas efforts made by the Chief Secretary to take the decision are to be appreciated, the timeline with regard to the installation of other than 12 cameras ‘preferably by September 30, 2020’, is not acceptable. A genuine timeline at the earliest must be adhered to…” Justice Amol Rattan Singh asserted.

Before parting with the order, Justice Amol Rattan Singh directed that the Chief Secretary would go into the matter and file his affidavit giving a “genuinely acceptable” timeframe by which all cameras, DVR and printers would be installed.

The Bench, on the previous date of hearing, had made it clear that it wanted the buyers, sellers and even the witnesses to come up with concrete identity proof such as passport or PAN, while taking judicial notice of the fact that far too often criminal and civil proceedings were being initiated on the basis of allegation that either the registrar was not registering the sale deed for extraneous consideration or persons going in for registration were actually getting themselves marked present even after the registration hours.