Amid lawyers’ strike, govt sets Nov 30 deadline for computerised regn of docs

JAMMU: Amid the ongoing strike by lawyers against the creation of a separate department of registration, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday announced that a computerised registration system will be rolled out across the union territory by the end of November.
The announcement came four days after the Revenue Department issued printed Mutation Register with 100 leaves each to the Patwaris, thus backing government’s decision which divested the judicial courts of its powers to register various documents leading to an indefinite strike by lawyers in most parts of Jammu region which will enter eleventh day on Monday.
However, the administration, which recently defended its decision through newspaper advertisements, is not likely to reconsider the same as could be made out by Sunday’s high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam.
The meeting finalised steps for rolling out the new system, which is being set up with an objective to provide efficient, speedy and hassle-free service for people, an official spokesman said. In the meeting, attended by Financial Commissioner (Finance) A K Mehta, Financial Commissioner (Revenue) and Inspector General Registration Pawan Kotwal among others, they decided to constitute a four-member committee for overseeing its implementation across Jammu and Kashmir.
"The committee will oversee the roll-out of the system and guide individual stakeholders or implementers for smooth implementation of the project. Based on the recommendations of the committee, the system will be rolled out fully by November 30," the spokesman added.
He said the finance department would release the required funds to the IG Registration for meeting the costs on the establishment and computerisation of the registration system.
On October 23, the State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by the then Governor Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the creation of the new department, which will function under the overall administrative control of the revenue department, to provide hassle-free and speedy service to the citizens for registration of documents pertaining to immovable property like sale, gift, mortgage, lease and bequest.
The Government has also appointed Officers as Registrars and Sub-Registrars for purposes of implementation of the provisions of the Act. The jurisdiction of the Registrars and Sub-Registrars has also been defined.
The decision, which divested the judicial courts of its powers to register various documents, was opposed by lawyers in Jammu who went on an indefinite strike called by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JKHCBA) from November 1.
The move has affected judicial work in the High Court and its subordinate courts across the region.