With many departments experiencing difficulties in transferring unutilized lands to private bodies, Haryana Government has chalked out a new policy for fixation of market rate of immovable properties in the State.

Under the policy, a uniform standing committee at district level would be constituted which will fix rates of properties of all departments of the government, boards, corporations, panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies.

The committee will be set up by the Revenue Department which has been designated as the nodal department under the new policy. The Divisional Commissioner concerned will be the chairman of the uniform standing committee, said an official spokesman.

Explaining the need for setting up a uniform committee at district level, Sanjeev Kaushal, Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, said the need was felt on two counts. Firstly, some departments might have constituted similar committees for making valuation of the market rate of immovable properties which may have adopted different yardsticks. Secondly, in the absence of crystal clear guidelines, many departments have been experiencing difficulties in transferring unutilized lands of minor nature, including its abandoned paths etc, to private bodies, these being situated in between their lands. Not only this puts a stumbling block in the fast development of projects but also affects revenue of the state, he added

Kaushal said the policy has laid down that land records i.e., copies of jamabandi, mutation, khasra girdawari, field book will be made available by the deputy commissioner concerned. The title of the property, including ownership, khasra numbers, shall be verified online from the Web-HALRIS portal by the revenue team of the divisional commissioner.

The empanelled valuers shall make a valuation of the property in question, as per the relevant statute, rules, policy and instructions of the department, institution or entity, to which they belong, and shall submit a report in 10 days from the date they are requested. The uniform standing committee shall meet within seven days of receipt of the report and work out the average of the valuation made by the valuers

If the concerned builder or private entity is ready to pay double the amount of the latest collector rates fixed under the Indian Stamp Act. for registration of sale deeds of the land under reference or average of two deeds of highest amount during the preceding year in the revenue estate pertaining to the same kind of land or immovable property, whichever is higher, appropriate decision can be taken by the concerned department with approval of the Chief Minister and the other procedure prescribed in the policy shall not be applicable, he said.

In case, the final cost of the land is finalized, the conveyance deed executed by the concerned government department/board etc shall be registered under the Registration Act. 1908 (Central Act 16 of 1908), Kaushal added.