Patna: Opposition to Bihar’s shift to digital and paperless land registration has emerged in Phulwarisharif, with residents gathering at the sub-registrar’s office complex to raise concerns over the new system and demand changes.
Protesters said a completely digital registration process could create difficulties for rural residents, elderly people and those with limited digital or formal education.
Protesters raise digital and security concerns
Those opposing the system said a lack of technical knowledge could make the paperless process difficult for many people.
They also raised concerns about cyber fraud, forged documents and land disputes, arguing that adequate security measures and safeguards should be in place before the new system is implemented on a wider scale.
The protesters said the government should first address practical difficulties faced by citizens and ensure that the system is secure and accessible.
Demand for updated land records
The protesters have called for the completion of the land survey across Bihar and preparation of clear land records, ownership details and plot maps before paperless registration is implemented on a large scale.
They argued that digitising registration without correcting existing errors in land records could create further difficulties for landowners and buyers.
They also suggested retaining a document-based registration option alongside the digital system. This, they said, would allow people comfortable with technology to use the paperless process while giving elderly and rural residents an alternative.
Protesters claim registrations have fallen
The protesters also raised concerns about a reported decline in registrations at the Phulwarisharif registration office following the introduction of the new system.
They claimed that daily registrations, which previously numbered around 40 to 50, had fallen to two or three. This claim has not been independently verified.
The protesters warned that if the decline continues, the system could inconvenience the public and potentially affect government revenue generated through registrations.
Government pitches paperless system as faster and transparent
The government has presented digital and paperless registration as an effort to make the process more transparent, faster and convenient.
The system is intended to increase the use of technology in land registration and reduce unnecessary visits to government offices.
The contrasting views have prompted residents to call for an assessment of the practical problems emerging at the local level. They have urged the government to make necessary changes while balancing citizen convenience with the state’s registration revenue.
