T.N. govt. mandates presenceless registration of title deeds, receipts presented by banks from Sept. 15

The Tamil Nadu government has released an order mandating presenceless registration for the submission of title deeds and receipt documents presented by banks and financial institutions, beginning September 15. This action is part of the second phase of the Anywhere Registration initiative. This announcement was made by Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration, D. Logesh Tamilselvan, during a recent assembly session.

The first phase of Anywhere Registration, launched by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on August 17, required the registration of deeds related to the initial sale of plots by land promoters and the first sale of apartments by builders, along with the submission of title deeds. The government's latest order highlights that banks and financial institutions typically present title deed deposits for registration when generating security for loans made by them.

Deeds of receipt are also registered upon the repayment or discharge of secured loans, documenting the resolution of the liability.

These transactions are typically carried out by banks and financial institutions as part of their standard lending activities. Because these documents originate from regulated institutions, and their authorized officials can access the STAR (Simplified and Transparent Administration of Registration) system, they are well-suited for a fully digital registration process.

Since the deposit of title deeds and deed of receipt were already available under the presenceless registration framework, expanding their registration through the system represents an optimal use of the digital infrastructure already set up by the Registration Department.

With the new system, banks and financial institutions will be able to submit documents electronically without requiring their staff to visit Sub-Registrar Offices. This shift is anticipated to decrease physical traffic and direct interaction, expedite processing, enhance the traceability of mortgage-related transactions, and provide secure digital storage for registered documents.