Now, no NOCs for property registration
No Objection Certificate
The common man in Punjab can now be relieved as the practice of procuring a no objection certificate (NOC) from the local body or housing development authority for the registration of sale deeds of property has been abolished. Instead, the seller will have to give a declaration regarding the property being within municipal limits and that it is recognised by the housing authority or the local body concerned.
Although the Housing Department has raised objections regarding doing away with the NOC requirement, the Revenue Department has issued a notification, paving the way for self-declaration of property being sold rather than the tedious process of getting NOCs. The matter was discussed at the highest level in the government before the decision was announced.
Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia said that eliminating the need for NOCs was a way forward in governance reforms as people faced a lot of harassment in getting the NOCs. “Moreover, it is the job of the Housing or Local Bodies to see that if anyone gives wrong affidavit, he is liable for action. We have followed the policy of Income Tax department regarding self declaration, rather than getting NOCs from other departments,” he added.
Earlier, under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, the seller of the property had to get NOCs stating that the plot/land was within the municipal limits. The change in land use number of the plot had to be submitted along with the copy of approved building plans by the seller with the sale deeds as per instructions issued by the Housing Department. This process has now been scrapped.
Further, other instructions issued by the Housing Department asking Registrars and sub-registrars across Punjab to not register sale deed or any other document concerning sale of land or building, situated in unauthorised colonies, unless the seller gives a self-declaration that he has applied for regularisation of the plot to the authority concerned have also been set aside.
