In a huge development, which will put a brake on illegal sale or purchase of land in Odisha and discourage the builders to exploit the common people, the Odisha Government has made it mandatory for the production of Record of Rights (RoR) or ‘Patta’ during the registration process.

Registration won’t take place unless the seller produces the RoR to convince the registering authority of his right, title and interest over the property to complete the sale of land. Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra announced the decision taken by the state Cabinet.

The latest decision came as a big relief for the people, who always find themselves at the receiving end, thanks to the hegemony of the builders, who cheat them with massive exploitation strategies. Sometimes, they sell the same land to many people, using the ‘power of attorney’.

The Cabinet also decided to amend Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908, making the prior sanction by a competent authority mandatory during any transaction related to immovable properties of five categories – State Government or Local Authorities, Religious Institutions under Odisha Hindu Religious Endowment Act, Bhoodan Yagna and Bhoodan Yagna Samiti, Wakfs Board and Lord Jagannath, Puri.