Registration department has set benchmark in transparency, says CM

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday (January 4, 2026) said the State Registration department has emerged as a model for transparent, corruption-free and people-friendly governance, while inaugurating the State-level Registration Day celebrations and presenting awards to the best-performing offices at Anjarakandy.

Highlighting the department’s role beyond revenue generation, the Chief Minister said it safeguards citizens’ property rights and legal security, making it a critical pillar in the state’s development process. He noted that hosting the event at Anjarakandy, home to Kerala’s first Sub-Registrar Office, added historic significance to the celebrations.

Tracing the department’s origins, Mr. Vijayan recalled that the first government-approved Sub-Registrar Office began functioning on February 1, 1865, at the bungalow of British planter Murdoch Brown. The Anjarakandy office, housed in a heritage building constructed in 1876, continues to operate in the same premises. Since the first document was registered there on January 4, 1867, the day has been observed annually as Registration Day.

The Chief Minister said the government had succeeded in dismantling entrenched corrupt practices and middlemen exploitation that once plagued property registration. With a firm policy of zero tolerance towards corruption, the department has ensured speed, efficiency and transparency in its services, he added.

Major reforms include the ‘Anywhere Registration’ facility, enabling deed registration at any Sub-Registrar Office within a district, and the introduction of e-stamping to eliminate stamp paper shortages and black marketing. Integration with the Revenue department has also enabled online processing of mutation procedures, marking a significant digital leap.

Mr. Vijayan said Sub-Registrar Offices across the State were being transformed into smart, citizen-friendly offices with modern facilities and congratulated the award-winning offices for their performance.

The government has also simplified marriage registration procedures, ensured greater inclusion of marginalised and transgender persons, and enabled online notices under the Special Marriage Act. Stamp duty concessions for the poor and streamlined registrations under the LIFE Mission housing scheme were cited as examples of the department’s social commitment.

Referring to future plans, the Chief Minister said the government is considering the use of blockchain technology to enhance the security of land transactions and prevent fake documents and duplicate registrations. “The aim is to deliver maximum services to citizens without requiring them to visit offices in person,” he added.

Congratulating the award recipients, Mr. Vijayan said the recognition should reinforce their responsibility to uphold a civil service culture rooted in humility, efficiency and public trust, and he formally declared the Registration Day celebrations open.