Ghaziabad stops house registry in 321 illegal colonies

GHAZIABAD: From Tuesday, the stamps and registration department of Ghaziabad stopped registries of properties in all unauthorised colonies. This comes after Ghaziabad district magistrate Ritu Maheshwari issued orders to the department with an aim to prevent mushrooming of illegal colonies across the city.
The department has also been handed over a list of illegal colonies — 321 in number — by Ghaziabad Development Authority for reference, officials said.

“On the orders of the district magistrate, we have stopped registries of properties in unauthorised colonies, the list of which has been provided to us by GDA,” said assistant IG (Stamps) Mewa Lal Patel.

Even though the stamps and registration department has stopped such registries, the move contradicts the registration manual and act governing registries in the state.

As per Clause 241 of The Registration Manual, “registering officers should bear in mind that they are in no way concerned with the validity of the documents brought to them for registration and it would be wrong for them to refuse to register on any such ground…”

However, the AIG (Stamps) said they were bound to follow the order as it came from the district magistrate. “However, we have written to the principal secretary of stamps and registration department over the contradictions and sought his guidance, but as of now the DM’s order is being followed in letter and spirit,” Patel added.

When contacted, the DM said, “Preventing growth of illegal colonies is paramount. I have apprised the state government of our move before issuing the order and now only the government can revoke the same,” she added.

This is not for the first time that the issue has cropped up. In July this year, Maheshwari had passed similar order but it was challenged by the stamps and registration department on grounds of legality. Subsequently, the plan had to be abandoned.

Meanwhile, the Tehsil Bar Association has threatened stir if the order is not withdrawn. “The DM’s move is arbitrary and we will not allow this. We demand that the order be taken back or else we will organize massive protest,” said the association’s office-bearer Lomesh Bhati.