govt-seeks-public-feedback-on-draft-bill

Inviting greater participation of the public in amendment of laws that have been active since pre-Independence years, the government of India has sought public feedback on a draft bill that caters to registration of documents affecting immovable property and other transactions, aimed at providing reliable, secure, and efficient management. 

In a statement issued by the Rural Development Ministry about the development, the pre-Constitution law – The Registration Act, 1908, it said, had served as a cornerstone of the document registration system in India for over a century and provided a legal basis for the registration of documents affecting immovable property and other transactions. 

“Over time, the role of registered documents has grown significantly in both public and private transactions, often forming the basis for financial, administrative, and legal decision-making. It is therefore essential that the process of registration is robust, reliable, and capable of adapting to evolving societal and technological developments,” the ministry said.

The new bill, called, The Registration Bill 2025, once enacted, will replace the currently prevailing one, said the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.

It said several states and Union territories have already introduced innovations such as online document submission and digital identity verification under the existing 1908 Act.

It added that it is equally important to clearly delineate the roles and responsibilities of registering officers, enabling them to uphold the integrity and reliability of the registration process in a manner consistent with applicable law.

“Building upon these advancements, there is now a need to provide a harmonised and enabling legislative framework to support secure, efficient, and citizen-centric registration practices across the country.

“The Registration Bill, 2025 has been designed to realise this vision,” the ministry said.

They said as a part of pre-legislative consultative process, the draft ‘The Registration Bill, 2025’ has been uploaded on the website of Department of Land Resources for inviting suggestions from public in a prescribed Performa within a period of 30 days, on or before June 25.

The suggestions may be shared at the email id – sanand.b@gov.in, in either MS Word (or compatible format) or machine-readable PDF format.