Official's erroneous conduct: Two lakh people to pay fine

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For conducting land registration showing lesser fair price value, as many as two lakh people will have to face recovery charges. This happened due to the fall from the official concerned who approved the presumptive price recorded without any criteria.

In 2010, before the arrival of fair value, stamp duty and registration fees were levied on the basis of prices recorded on deeds. If the Sub-Registrar feels this price is low or receives any complaint, the Registering Officer refers to the District Registrar to fix the actual price.

The reason for the lower price should be mentioned in column 10 of Form 1A. Criteria such as the market value of the land, habitability, accessibility to transport and the price of nearby properties will also be the basis. This wrong assumption has now pushed many people to recovery.

Even if the owner transfers the same property after receiving the undervaluation notice for the registration, the arrears liability will not be discharged. According to section 30 of the Kerala Stamp Act, the stamp duty is to be borne by the person purchasing the property. No matter how many times the same property is transferred, if undervaluation is found, the owner at that time will have to pay the dues.

The RDO has the right to determine the fair value of the land. The fair price has been fixed and published in the gazette on the basis of around 12 criteria such as proximity to the land, state highway, national highway, commercial feasibility, transport facility etc.