Temple lands not recorded properly

2,000 acres of temple land in Thiruporur: Madras HC gags registration dept

Suresh Kumar / TNN / Updated: Sep 6, 2020, 05:42 IST

Ring-fencing about 2,000 acres of temple land along the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and the East Coast Road (ECR) near the city, valued at about Rs 6,000 crore, against sale or lease by fraud, the Madras high court has restrained Thiruporur sub-registrar from creating any encumbrance on these properties.

Madras high court

CHENNAI: Ring-fencing about 2,000 acres of temple land along the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and the East Coast Road (ECR) near the city, valued at about Rs 6,000 crore, against sale or lease by fraud, the Madras high court has restrained Thiruporur sub-registrar from creating any encumbrance on these properties.
The land parcels are mostly owned by Arulmigu Thiruporur Kandaswamy Temple and Arulmigu Thiru Alavandan Temple in Thiruporur.

Admitting a public interest writ petition filed on the basis of a news report published in TOI dated July 14 titled ‘Tiruporur firing brings focus on shady land deals’ a division bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha tagged the PIL with pending similar matters and adjourned the case for further hearing on September 10.
The report brought to light how 2,000 acres of ₹6,000-crore worth land belonging to the two temples were being eyed by land sharks.
Plea wants entire land surveyed for encroachments
Pointing out that the lands administered by the Hindu religious and charitable endowment (HR&CE)department fall under the jurisdiction of Tiruporur sub registrar office, the report quoted officials as saying about 20 gangs, including some with political backing, were eyeing these land parcels.
Relying on the report, B Jagannath, an advocate, filed the petition saying there were multiple attempts to transfer the properties illegally with some staking claim from different parts of the state using forged documents.

He wanted the court to pass an interim order directing the authorities to survey the entire land and file a status report with details of encroachments if any within a reasonable time. He also wanted the court to restrain the Tiruporur sub-registrar or the inspector-general of registration from alienating or creating any encumbrance on these land titles.
Noting that those refusing to fall in line to clandestine offers are often threatened by local politicians, the petitioner said: “The revenue, registration and HR&CE departments have significant collective responsibility to act as a custodian and guardian of the temple lands and the manner in which the lands are being encroached and misappropriated is disgusting to say the least.”
Citing various judgments of the Supreme Court, the petitioner said authorities had to work together to safeguard valuable temple assets, especially immovable properties, as they are a prime source of income for the temples.
“It is the duty of the authorities, especially state revenue department, to protect these temple lands by ensuring that encumbrance of temple properties does not take place without following the due process of law,” the advocate added.

Error in survey number of 5 lakh land documents in database, says CAG

With 1.48 lakh wrong entries, Tiruvallur district has the highest number of errors.

Express News Service Updated on: 14 Jan 2023,  

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/Jan/14/error-in-survey-number-of-5-lakh-land-documents-in-database-says-cag-2537745.html#:~:text=Error%20in%20survey%20number%20of,documents%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20report%20said.

CHENNAI:  Survey numbers of 5.06 lakh land documents have been wrongly recorded in Tamilnilam, the official database of the land administration department, during computerisation of land records in 20 taluks, says the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit report 2022 on land records management tabled in the Assembly. 

With 1.48 lakh wrong entries, Tiruvallur district has the highest number of errors. The clerical error in assigning survey numbers for land parcels may affect a few hundred crore worth of property transactions, sources said. The CAG report said 23.24 lakh land documents have been digitised in 20 taluks in Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Tiruppur, Perambalur, The Nilgiris, Kanniyakumari and other districts. “Survey numbers of 15.03 lakh documents have been recorded correctly. But discrepancies were found in survey numbers of 5,06,518 documents,”  the report said. 

A sample study was carried out by the CAG in 20 taluks. Discrepancies were also found in computerised natham chitta in these 20 taluks. While owners’ names were missing in 293 documents, relatives’ names were not found in 328, the CAG said. Digitisation of land records has been marred by several deficiencies, including an abnormal delay in launching online services for natham land records and e-adangal, and delay in online patta transfers.

The report also pointed out deficiencies in data link between registration and revenue departments, asset management, data security and monitoring of the scheme. “Lack of validation controls in the software resulted in errors and discrepancies in capturing old survey numbers and assigning sub-division numbers as per rotation rules,” the report said.

Pattas were issued to private entities for 6.22 lakh land parcels across 111 towns as per Updating of Registry scheme in 1979, classifying it as ryotwari nanjai/punjai. However, these land parcels were registered as government land (sarkar punjai/nanjai) in Tamilnilam, the report said. 

In response to CAG’s observation, revenue officials said nearly 3 lakh of 6.22 lakh cases have been resolved and remaining cases would also be addressed soon. “It is, however, a matter of concern that owners of about 3.22 lakh land parcels are put to hardship in getting patta transfers,” the CAG said.