Land records system upgrade welcome

WITH the digitisation of land records, the first step in addressing the issue of land disputes and illegal transfer of lands may have been taken. While it used to cost an applicant Tk1,000 and untold hassle to get hold of a printed copy of a map, that cost has now been reduced to a fraction. We welcome the effort by authorities to introduce modern technology to expedite service. It is imperative, however, to make the sub-registry offices nationwide accountable for registering lands which have become dens of corruption. As there are no provisions to bind officials to thoroughly checking the validity of documentation placed for registration, the malpractice leads to thousands of cases being lodged with courts to prove authenticity of ownership.
Needless to say, the project has been launched to reduce such problems by a broad stroke. However, as per newspaper reports, there remain discrepancies with regards to procuring necessary digital printing machines and allocating finances for recruiting necessary personnel. Were records to be computerised, it would make duplication that much more difficult and crosschecking that much easier. Now that the project has been launched, it falls upon authorities to plug the loopholes in the system that allow unscrupulous criminals to work in connivance with corrupt officials at the registry office to transfer ownership title of land to a new owner who remains in the dark until it is too late. Changes in acts and rules along with the digitisation process can go a long way in redressing this age old problem of land ownership.