Bengaluru: Two months after the state govt introduced online counselling for transfers in the stamps and registration department to curb lobbying and corruption, a section of sub-registrars has urged the authorities to scrap the new system and restore the earlier general transfer process.According to sources, the govt may consider their proposal to revert to the old system.The sub-registrars have submitted a representation recently to deputy chief minister and revenue minister G Parameshwara, arguing that online counselling is “unnecessary” for a cadre of about 294 sub-registrars. In its representation, the Karnataka State Stamps and Registration Department Officials’ Association stated that the department, one of the state’s highest revenue earners, requires flexibility to post experienced officers to high-revenue districts such as Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural.
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After meeting the delegation, Parameshwara directed the additional chief secretary of the revenue department to submit a detailed proposal to the govt.Senior revenue department officials also met the minister last week and explained that the new rules were framed to curb lobbying, bribery and undue influence in securing lucrative postings, particularly in Bengaluru. The minister assured them that a final decision would be taken after detailed discussions.According to the sources, some influential sub-registrars are opposed to the digital counselling system.They pointed out that under the govt’s transfer guidelines, only 6% of sub-registrars are eligible for transfer each year, translating to around 18 officers. Conducting online counselling for such a small number of transfers, they argued, is unnecessary.The association argued that online counselling could restrict the administrative discretion to post the most experienced and capable officers to key offices.However, another section of sub-registrars has supported the new system, saying it would make the transfer process more transparent by eliminating favouritism and corruption. They said the digital counselling system would also provide honest officers with a fair opportunity to secure postings in prominent sub-registrar offices.Senior revenue department officials defended the reform, saying the earlier general transfer system had led to the formation of syndicates within the department. According to them, some officials allegedly used influence and money to secure postings in offices with high volumes of property transactions.“To dismantle such syndicates and bring the transfer process completely under the govt’s control, online counselling was introduced. While some officers are trying to persuade the govt to withdraw the system, the revenue department will submit a detailed note explaining how the new mechanism promotes transparency and benefits the govt,” a senior officer said.
