MAPUSA
Advocates across the State are closing ranks demanding transparency and accountability in the functioning of all sub-registrar offices in Goa.
The advocates have also demanded online viewing of all registered documents as a step toward curbing malpractices and land scams in the State.
“Inordinate delay in the approval of deeds and further delay in registration of deeds causes inconvenience to all stakeholders and raised a question mark on the efficacy of the sub-registrar in performing their duties,” said Adv Prasad Naik, President of South Goa Advocates Association (SGAA) while extending their support to the Mapusa Advocates Forum for raising their voice against the functioning of the sub-registrar office in Mapusa.
Naik said the SGAA had earlier raised the issue of the mess in the sub-registrar offices and emphasised that there should be digitalization of all recordsdeeds which are registered in the sub-registrar offices across the State.
“The process of digitalization should be completed within the shortest time so that there is no inconvenience caused to those approaching the office of the sub-registrar,” he said.
“It is in the interest of all stakeholders that there should be complete transparency and accountability in the functioning of all sub-registrar offices and there should be zero tolerance to corruption,” he added.
Last week the Mapusa Advocates Forum (MAF) raised a series of issues that were hampering the work at the sub-registrar office in Mapusa inconveniencing the lawyers’ fraternity and the public at large.
Citing mismanagement in the sub-registrar office, MAF President, Adv Paresh Rao said there was an inordinate delay in online approval for registration of property documents.
He also opposed discretionary powers given to sub-registrars to increase and decrease land rates and instead demanded notifying fixed market value for a specific period.
“Online approval of any deed should be done within a week. The sub-registrar should be directed not to raise any objection over approved deeds on the day of execution of deeds,” Rao said, adding that deeds of succession should also be executed online.
Raising the issue of inadequate infrastructure at the sub-registrar office, the MAF said that people were forced to stay in the office for the whole day but there were no toilets and proper sitting facility in the office.
The MAF had brought the issue to the attention of Law Minister Nilesh Cabral in writing around two months ago.
“The government is yet to respond to our appeal. But we are happy that advocates across the State have risen to the occasion and supported our cause against the issues affecting the functioning of the sub-registrar offices,” Rao said.
