Registration dept affidavit draws judge’s flak

Justice N Kirubakaran on seeking a fresh affidavit by December 20 also directed the Director of Vigilance and Anti-corruption (DVAC) to file its response to the queries raised earlier by the court on that day. 

Inspector General of Registration J Kumaragurubaran had submitted that besides issuing a circular on December 8, reiterating the practice of cashless transaction 

in Sub-Registrar offices and bar touts and brokers from entering the office premises, said based on the surprise checks conducted by DVAC, two delinquent officers have been dismissed from service and many have been provided with major punishments.

The surprise checks were held at the Sub-Registrar offices in Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Boothalur, Mohanur, Karaikudi, Chennai (South) and Udumalaipettai and persons found to be involved in malpractices were immediately transferred to non-sensitive posts, he said and added that on November 13, 2017, charges were framed against the Sub-Registrar, Pallavaram, for employing private persons.

He also submitted that out of the surprise raids held by DVAC during the past 10 years in 578 Sub-Registrar offices, as many as 77 cases were registered. Of them, 14 ended in conviction and Rs 70.01 lakh was seized.

Also, pointing out that they were unable to install control access system at the entrance of the Sub-Registrar office, since registrants and witnesses must come into the office for document registration, the Inspector General of Registration claimed that a comprehensive web based software-Star 2.0 is being implemented as a pilot project in 154 sub-registrar offices across the state in various phases since July 17, 2017.

The software would prevent outsiders to access the computer room, record room and view the data of registration department. This project is set to Go-Live in the near future, he said.