Nagpur: Aadhaar-based identity verification has become mandatory for registration of property documents in Maharashtra from Oct 1, with the state govt stating that the measure is aimed at curbing fraud involving parties and witnesses with fake identities and making the registration process more transparent.No property document would be registered without Aadhaar identification under the new rules, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said in a statement. “The requirement applies to 63 categories of document registrations, including transactions involving purchase, sale, mortgage and partition of immovable property,” he said.The decision, he said, was taken on the instructions of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to prevent fraud in property transactions. A notification to this effect has been published in Maharashtra Gazette and the new system came into force on Thursday.The registration and stamps department under Revenue Department handles registration of documents relating to immovable property. “Fake witnesses and fake parties used to carry out fraud will now be eliminated,” the Kamptee MLA said, adding that the move would make the process more efficient and transparent.The new requirement does not, however, mean that people without an Aadhaar number will automatically be denied registration. As per the notification, applicants who do not have an Aadhaar number will have to submit the acknowledgement receipt showing that they have applied for Aadhaar, along with another govt-issued identity document and documents establishing their relationship with the person concerned in the transaction.The transaction will be finalised only after the relevant verification has been completed, according to govt.The notification also provides specific safeguards for children and other eligible beneficiaries. In the case of children below 18, an Aadhaar enrolment application will be made with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.Govt has explicitly provided that no child or eligible beneficiary will be denied the benefit of document registration solely because an Aadhaar number is not available.
