Consumer outfit says additional fee collected for patta transfer

K Sathiyamoorthy, president of the federation, in his letter said that the revenue department was collecting patta transfer fee multiple times in violation of the order.

The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court issued orders in this regard on February 6, 2015, based on a GO (MS No.916 CT & RE department dated 23/8/1984) following a writ petition filed by the Consumer Protection Council, which argued that even after the fee for patta transfer was paid, another set of fee was demanded. The court stated that as patta transfer fee was collected through submission of Registration Form 52 along with the registration fee, there was no need to collect for another fee again.

“In reality, this does not happen as subordinate revenue staff demand payment,” Sathiyamoorthy said. Sources said that the Sendathur VAO in Pernambut taluk demanded payment of Rs 3,000 for patta transfer from one Sridhar of the same area, who purchased land in two parts in April 2019 (78 cents – survey No:29/2C and 6 cents – Survey No: 26/5B4) for which he paid Rs 7,600 for registration and another Rs 40 for patta transfer.

“Though I told him about the GO and the court order in this connection, patta transfer to my name is pending even after a lapse of two months,” Sridhar said.

Similarly, when I purchased 1.02 acres from four sisters of the same village on May 16, (Survey No:29/2B for patta number 1877), June 3 (Survey No:26/5B3 for patta number 1878) and June 12 (Survey No:26/5B4 for patta number 538), the patta was not transferred to my name despite remitting a registration charges of Rs 3,428, Rs 1,932 and Rs 1,932 respectively as also the patta transfer fee of Rs 120 for each survey number,” Sridhar added.

However, registration department officials gave a ‘standard’ reply they would check the records to verify the claims, said Sridhar.