Experience at the Registrar's Office

Initially I was all excited to get my new house registered and had taken a day off also for it. Taking a day off for doing some work and relaxing for the latter part is incentive enough but little did I know what sort of time I was going to have.

I drove to the registrar's office in decent spirits which hit rock bottom the moment I saw the street. It was big enough to let a auto rickshaw go thro but one way. The building, though not the Taj Mahal, took my breath away. It was in a dingy corner, with small shops in the ground floor, selling stamp papers (where touts sat).

After affixing my autograph in each sheet of the sale & construction deed (wud total 100 for sure), the papers were taken upstairs (the sub-registrar and registrar office). The office was in a pathetic state and had enough people standing around(made me think of mumbai surburban trains). I saw a huge photo of Kalaingar (am sure 5 months back Amma was there). There were other rooms which had ceiling high shelves filled books and ledgers

The papers reached the sub registrar, who looked at the house pincode and started hunting for a register for about 10 mins. The register was not very important, it just had details as to how much stamp duty, land tax etc should be paid for that area! After noting that, he started searching for another 10 mins for a pencil, once found he wrote down some details on the back of the papers in a language I swear resembled the cave writings of Mohen-ja-daro. The only part I understood was the numbers which signifyed how much money should exchange hands.

Then, papers were moved from one desk to another (efficient workflow system) till it reached the Registrar. He called out names, checked photos against faces, changed some numbers, swore some 50 times, scribbled with a green pen over the cave writings, after some 15 mins, finally said please pay the necessary amount at the counter.

I understand that land records, title deeds etc are being computerised in various e-governance initiatives. There were 4-5 people with computers, the only thing computerized I saw was the bill for the amount paid.

Finally the last straw, a ledger was brought alongwith the papers, the attendant said dip ur left thumb in the ink and place a thumb impression (kai nattu) near each of my photos (wondering why the hell I did post graduation).

Finally it was over!!! I was told that an inspection team would come in about 15 days, visit the site and sign the papers (once their palms are greased) and papers would be released after another 15 days.

Rest of the day went well, would have been better if not for the headache.