E-registry initiative postponed again
LUCKNOW: Part of the state government’s drive to digitise all government department processes, the e-registry initiative, which should have kick-started on September 19 but had to be postponed to September 25, may now have to wait till after Diwali.
Stiff opposition by lawyers has compelled the state government to further postpone the move.
Earlier, due to resistance from lawyers at the main registry office in Lucknow and tehsils for three days, the registry department had decided to hold back e-registry launch on September 19.
Work boycott by lawyers had brought all matters related to registration of marriage, property and mutation to a standstill. And even though the lawyers called off their stir on September 19, the department is still in no position to go ahead with the launch this week (around September 25-26) as it had hoped while postponing the roll-out.
Assistant inspector general (registration) SK Tripathi said the state government had been apprised of the decision to postpone the launch of e-registry.
“We were trying to reinitiate the process this week, but due to opposition by lawyers, the proposal will now have to wait till after Diwali,” said an official of the registry department.
“Starting e-registry during festive season will lead to work boycott by lawyers. This will cause heavy revenue loss to the state government,” he added.
WHY ARE LAWYERS AGAINST E-REGISTRY?
Lawyers say one of the key reasons why they are against e-registry roll-out is the “indifferent attitude of the registry department”.
“No lawyer has seen the software that will be used for e-registries. Even the officials of the registry department are unaware of the software. In such a scenario, how can you except lawyers to allow the process to be flagged off?” asked lawyer Rohit Kant.
He added that before going for such a system overhaul, the government should have carried out trials of the new process.
Lawyers also said that the department does not have the requisite infrastructure for carrying out hassle-free e-registries.
Meanwhile, registry department officials are also unwilling to take any chance sand go ahead with steps (including rolling out e-registry) that could hamper registry work during the festive occasions of Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali.
“These festivals are the peak period for property registration. The period from Navratri to Diwali is considered auspicious by Hindus and they often prefer registering their properties during this time,” said an official of the registry office.