Sub-registrar offices to get POS machines from Feb 18

“The point of sale devices, which are being tested in all the 575 sub-registrar offices in the city, will be ready for use from February 18,” J Kumaragurubaran, inspector general of registration, said. A recent circular issued by Kumaragurubaran, directed the sub-registrars to accept stamp duties and other fee from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 only in the form of Demand Draft (DD). Online payment options could be used for charges exceeding Rs 5,000. However, the department has allowed cash payment up  to Rs 1,000. 

In addition to collecting cash, we have decided to use point of sale devices for receiving lesser amounts. Training session on the use of POS devices for technical staff of sub-registrar offices were conducted recently, Kumaragurubaran added. It is also learnt that the State Bank of India has distributed the point of sale devices free of cost. 

A department source said that the cashless system was introduced as part of Star 2.0 project, an online process for registration, in an effort to weed out corruption at sub-registrar offices. Kumaragurubaran added that POS devices would help the applicants in avoiding multiple trips banks and sub-registrar offices to generate and pay challan to make other miscellaneous charges. It may be noted that the Registration Department had introduced the e-payment mode of paying registration charges as an additional option for offline payment in 2015. “We have also introduced e-stamping to curb misappropriation in offices across the state,” Kumaragurubaran added

In a major boost to the Registration Department that has been in a mode to make services online, more than 2.38 lakh applications were received from the public seeking QR Coded encumbrance certificates (EC). According to J Kumaragurubaran, inspector general of registration, the department had received more than 2.38 lakh applications seeking QR coded encumbrance certificates from December 10 to February 11. 

“Of the total applications received, we disbursed nearly 2.25 lakh ECs,” he added. Meanwhile, the department has also received over 65,000 applications seeking other certified copies and more than 63,000 certified copies were issued.