When you buy a plot of land, it’s imperative that you register it in your name. Registration is necessary to prove that you lawfully possess that plot of land. One of the more important documents you’ll need while buying land and registering it is land patta. Keep reading to know more about what this document is, why it is important, and how you can get your copy.
What is Land Patta?
A revenue record, land patta certifies that the person in whose name the property is registered is the owner of the land. It is important for property transactions as it indicates rightful ownership of property. The only case where you can’t have a patta is if your land has undivided shares.
Importance of Land Patta
· A land patta outlines the most important detail about your land, its perimeter. Naturally, your patta will stand as evidence for proving your ownership over a bare land unit.
· If the government acquires your land under a particular land acquisition scheme, you will be compensated for it, provided you have a patta proving you’re the lawful owner of the land.
· The patta will act as a safeguard in matters of property disputes, as it will protect the case of the property owner.
How Can I Get a Land Patta?
You can get your land patta from the local Tahsildar’s office. Apply for it by filling in a requisition form and submitting it along with the sale deed and other property-related documents. Be exact about the information you provide on the form and the documents, as there might be an inspection.
Once you receive your patta, you will never have to renew it, until and unless you are selling or transferring your property. If your property is jointly owned by multiple persons, you’ll receive a single patta containing a list of the co-owners’ names.
Transfer of Land Patta
1. If you’ve inherited a plot of land, you should get the land patta transferred to your name.
2. If a patta owner dies intestate (i.e., without a will), the patta will automatically be transferred to his or her heir(s) as per the relevant succession laws.
3. In case a beneficiary is named in the will, the patta will be transferred only by the consent of the direct heirs of the deceased. If the heirs decide to contest the will, investigations will be carried out to confirm that the benefactor was the one who made the will, was in a stable mental state while doing so, and didn’t make it under any kind of external duress. The patta is handed over to the beneficiary only if the result of the inquest proves to be satisfactory.
4. In case the legal property owner is missing for seven years or more, he or she will be considered dead. The patta transfer then follows the same rules as in the case of the intestate death of the owner.
