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The Karnataka government has introduced a series of legislative amendments aimed at tightening land governance, streamlining property transactions, and digitizing revenue processes. Key proposals include mandatory registration of power-of-attorney documents related to immovable property transfers and provisions for digital e-stamping and electronic signatures. The amendments also focus on curbing land grabbing, with stricter penalties, and safeguarding both rural and urban government land from encroachment. Additionally, the proposed bills advocate for transparent revenue practices, regulation of unauthorized cultivation, and protection of natural assets such as grazing grounds and water bodies, aligning with Supreme Court directives.
The Karnataka government has moved to overhaul property and revenue-related regulations by tabling several key amendments in the Legislative Assembly earlier this week. Among the prominent proposals is the Registration (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to amend the century-old Registration Act of 1908. The amendment mandates compulsory registration of power-of-attorney documents that authorize the transfer of immovable property, whether or not consideration is involved. It also aims to require compulsory registration of documents related to government grants of immovable property, making the production of a power-of-attorney document mandatory for legal proof. Further, the bill proposes that government officers and designated public functionaries electronically forward such documents to registering authorities under Section 88. Advertisement
In parallel, the Karnataka Stamp (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was introduced to include digital e-stamping under the definition of duly stamped documents. This bill also gives legal recognition to electronic signatures, signaling Karnataka's push towards digitization in property registration processes. Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who tabled the bill, outlined plans to facilitate the electronic payment of stamp duty, making transactions more transparent and efficient.
Addressing rampant issues of land encroachment, the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was tabled to strengthen the state's capacity to protect government land, particularly in urban areas. The proposed amendment calls for tougher enforcement by revenue officials, holding them accountable for safeguarding public land. It also introduces stricter penalties for land grabbing, raising fines from INR 25,000 to INR 50,000 and extending imprisonment terms up to three years. Notably, the bill includes provisions for employing advanced distance measuring techniques to improve accuracy in identifying and addressing encroachments.
The existing Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2014, which established a special court to expedite land-grabbing cases, will be bolstered through these new measures. The government reiterated that recruitment for enforcement roles will remain under official oversight, in line with existing norms and administrative rules.
On the rural front, the Karnataka Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was also placed before the Assembly to provide clarity on the regularization of unauthorized cultivation committees within constituencies. The amendment proposes clear guidelines for defining and managing government kharab land and setting processes for naming or renaming revenue areas. Another key provision would enable the state to grant land to farmers who have permanently lost agricultural holdings due to natural disasters such as river shifts, flash floods, or landslides.
In addition to safeguarding land use, this bill outlines measures to curb fraudulent entries in revenue records, addressing long-standing malpractice concerns among revenue officers. The proposed legislation references Supreme Court judgments to emphasize the state's duty to protect public land, grazing fields, and water bodies from misuse or encroachment.
Lastly, the Karnataka Village Offices Abolition (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was tabled to update statutory references, replacing mentions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, with the corresponding provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, ensuring legal consistency with the updated criminal code.
Karnataka's latest legislative push marks a significant step towards modernizing property transactions and improving land governance across the state. By mandating electronic processes and tightening anti-encroachment regulations, the government is aiming for a more transparent, accountable, and digitally aligned system. These reforms reflect the state's broader agenda of securing public land and simplifying dealings involving immovable property while addressing the growing challenges of land disputes and fraudulent practices.
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