Govt doubles fees, simplifies land registration procedures
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Mahmuda Shaolin
The government has doubled the rate of fees for mutation of record, separation of holding and consolidation of holding in land registration and simplified such procedures with effect from October 1.
At the same time, the land ministry has also fixed a 30-day timeframe for completing the entire process of mutation of record to lessen the harassment of people by the land officials concerned.
With the latest hike, the government is expected to earn Tk 120 million in additional revenue annually. The total annual earnings will stand at Tk 240 million from such fees. The land ministry settles 100,000 cases on an average every month throughout the country.
According to the ministry of land, fee for mutation of record has been increased to Tk 200 in 2002 from Tk 100 in 1996. The fee for mutation of record was only Tk 25 in 1982, which was increased to Tk 50 in 1990 and Tk 100 in 1996.
In addition, the land offices charge Tk 5.0 as application fee and Tk 2.0 as processing fee for mutation of record, separation of holding and consolidation of holding.
The authority increased the charge in 2002, but it was not implemented until September 2008, said a senior official of the ministry of land. Ministry of Land has started implemen tation of the new fee from early this month, the official added.
The fees for mutation of record, separation of holding and consolidation of holding were hiked last in 1996. Mutation of record is needed for several reasons such as transfer of land following the death of landowners, transfer of land to a new owner through registration and acquisition of land by the government.
To stop harassment of people, the land ministry has fixed a 30-day timeframe for completing the process of mutation of record and additional commissioner (land) or additional district administrator (revenue) will look after the process. Earlier, it took long time.
Talking to the FE, a high official of ministry of land said the decision of raising the fee for mutation of record was taken in 2002, but it was not implemented due to unknown reason.
The government has increased the fees after six years, said a senior official of ministry of land.
"Now, people will also get the Certified Copy (CP) of the mutated record of rights from their Upzilla land office instead of district headquarters," he said.
Land-owners have to bear extra cost and face hassles at the department's head office and some of its district head offices to obtain their CPs, he said.
If any dispute arises over mutation of record, the aggrieved person can appeal against the decision of assistant commissioner (land) to deputy commissioner (DC) or additional DC (revenue). The person has the right to appeal against the decision of deputy commissioner (DC) or additional DC (revenue) to divisional commissioner concerned and finally to land appeal board.
As per the land ministry's latest decision, people can collect the documents of their mutation of records from the office of assistant commissioner (Land). Earlier, collectors or revenue officers were responsible for providing such services to the people.
The government has doubled the rate of fees for mutation of record, separation of holding and consolidation of holding in land registration and simplified such procedures with effect from October 1.
At the same time, the land ministry has also fixed a 30-day timeframe for completing the entire process of mutation of record to lessen the harassment of people by the land officials concerned.
With the latest hike, the government is expected to earn Tk 120 million in additional revenue annually. The total annual earnings will stand at Tk 240 million from such fees. The land ministry settles 100,000 cases on an average every month throughout the country.
According to the ministry of land, fee for mutation of record has been increased to Tk 200 in 2002 from Tk 100 in 1996. The fee for mutation of record was only Tk 25 in 1982, which was increased to Tk 50 in 1990 and Tk 100 in 1996.
In addition, the land offices charge Tk 5.0 as application fee and Tk 2.0 as processing fee for mutation of record, separation of holding and consolidation of holding.
The authority increased the charge in 2002, but it was not implemented until September 2008, said a senior official of the ministry of land. Ministry of Land has started implemen tation of the new fee from early this month, the official added.
The fees for mutation of record, separation of holding and consolidation of holding were hiked last in 1996. Mutation of record is needed for several reasons such as transfer of land following the death of landowners, transfer of land to a new owner through registration and acquisition of land by the government.
To stop harassment of people, the land ministry has fixed a 30-day timeframe for completing the process of mutation of record and additional commissioner (land) or additional district administrator (revenue) will look after the process. Earlier, it took long time.
Talking to the FE, a high official of ministry of land said the decision of raising the fee for mutation of record was taken in 2002, but it was not implemented due to unknown reason.
The government has increased the fees after six years, said a senior official of ministry of land.
"Now, people will also get the Certified Copy (CP) of the mutated record of rights from their Upzilla land office instead of district headquarters," he said.
Land-owners have to bear extra cost and face hassles at the department's head office and some of its district head offices to obtain their CPs, he said.
If any dispute arises over mutation of record, the aggrieved person can appeal against the decision of assistant commissioner (land) to deputy commissioner (DC) or additional DC (revenue). The person has the right to appeal against the decision of deputy commissioner (DC) or additional DC (revenue) to divisional commissioner concerned and finally to land appeal board.
As per the land ministry's latest decision, people can collect the documents of their mutation of records from the office of assistant commissioner (Land). Earlier, collectors or revenue officers were responsible for providing such services to the people.