The move follows directions from the Chief Minister’s office and a Planning Department order requiring all administrative departments to review and simplify their notified services and schemes. The Registration and Stamps Department conducted a detailed review of its 15 services notified under the 2015 Act. The exercise focused on merging similar services, denotifying unnecessary ones, reducing process steps and documents, digitising workflows, integrating systems through APIs, and delivering services more efficiently online.

Under service rationalisation, similar services have been merged. The earlier separate services for providing certified copies or lists of registered documents (services 2, 3 and 9) have been clubbed into a single service covering certified copies of registered documents or lists. Applications can be made either at the Sub-Registrar or Joint District Registrar office (Type-1) or through the Maitri Cell (Type-2). Services related to solemnisation of marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, and registration of marriages already solemnised by other methods under the same Act (earlier services 12 and 14) have also been merged into one service.

Two services are to be denotified. These are the authentication of Special Power of Attorney and the deposit, return and opening of a sealed cover of a Will. The department has been directed to submit the necessary proposal to the Maharashtra Right to Public Services Commission for formal denotification.

The revised list now comprises 10 services. Of these, three are purely G2C (government-to-citizen) while seven cover both G2C and G2B (government-to-business) categories. All will be delivered through the department’s own online system and integrated with the Aaple Sarkar portal for citizen services and the Maitri portal for business-related services. Services accessible through both channels will be available on both portals.

Significant process reforms have been ordered. The number of desks involved in scrutiny, verification and approval is to be minimised. Technical development of the services will be carried out within the existing iSARITA system rather than through new platforms. API integration already available with Land Records, Aadhaar, PAN, municipal corporations and other government systems will be leveraged so that citizens are not asked to re-submit information already held by the government. DigiLocker integration is also mandated. Application development, business logic, workflow and database management will remain with the department, while necessary front-end integration with the state portals will be handled in coordination with MahaIT to avoid delays.

Document requirements are being sharply reduced. Information available in other government systems or already with the department will not be demanded again. Data entry fields in application forms are to be minimised through auto-fetch and auto-fill features. Only documents legally required will be sought; unnecessary ones are to be eliminated. Where the law does not mandatorily require an affidavit, self-declaration will be accepted instead. The Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamps has been asked to issue administrative orders to reduce the compliance burden on citizens.

All 10 revised services are to be made fully online, with digital workflows, online verification, digital certificate generation, status tracking and digital record management. WhatsApp integration is specifically directed for services related to certified copies and searches. Revised timelines fixed under the Right to Public Services Act are set out in Annexure-A of the GR. Most routine services have short timelines of one to three days. Home visit for registration is prescribed at five days, refund of registration fees paid through e-payment in unregistered cases at 22 days, and adjudication of documents at 55 days. Designated officers, first appellate and second appellate authorities have been clearly specified for each service, with separate tracks for direct office applications and those routed through the Maitri Cell.

Fee revisions form part of the reform package. The GR indicates that fees under the Table of Fees in the Maharashtra Registration Rules, 1961, will be amended through a separate notification. Proposed rates show increases across several heads. Inspection or search of computer-generated entries is proposed to rise, certified digital and paper copies of documents and lists will cost more, and the fee for home visit for registration is proposed to increase substantially from ₹300 to ₹5,000. New fees will apply only after the formal amendment is notified.

The Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamps, Maharashtra State, Pune, has been directed to issue Standard Operating Procedures, technical instructions, workflows and administrative guidelines for effective implementation. The department must complete the required software development, API integration and online service delivery. Fresh notification of the 10 rationalised services under the 2015 Act is to be issued, and the denotification process for the two services is to be completed. All previous orders inconsistent with this GR stand superseded to the extent of implementation of the present decision.

The reforms are expected to reduce physical visits to Sub-Registrar offices, cut paperwork, enable greater use of existing digital databases, and provide clearer timelines for property registration, certified copies of documents, record searches, stamp duty valuation, Special Marriage Act processes and related services that ordinary citizens and homebuyers frequently require.

Also Read: Maharashtra Govt Revives Fading Circus Legacy: Fixed Low Rents for Temporary Land Leases to Boost Artists’ Livelihoods

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In a landmark decision set to bring significant convenience to millions of Mumbaikars, the Maharashtra Revenue and Forests Department has eliminated the jurisdictional restriction on document registration. Effective October 10th, 2025, citizens, businesses, and company owners across Mumbai city and its suburbs can now complete the document registration process (Adjudication of Documents) at any of the six designated stamp offices, irrespective of their residential or business location.

This crucial notification, issued by the Revenue and Forests Department, supersedes all earlier orders, granting Mumbaikars unprecedented flexibility in handling their vital paperwork.

Goodbye to Jurisdiction Headaches

Until now, the process of registering documents—including property agreements, lease agreements, and inheritance deeds—was mandatorily confined to the specific stamp office under whose jurisdiction the citizen resided or the property was located. This often meant long travel times and queuing at a single, overburdened office.

The new policy removes this spatial barrier entirely. Mumbaikars are now free to choose from any of the following six offices appointed as Collectors for the Revenue Districts of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban:

• Collector of Stamps (Mumbai)
• Collector of Stamps (Andheri)
• Collector of Stamps (Borivali)
• Collector of Stamps (Kurla)
• Collector of Stamps (Enforcement-I – near Old Custom House)
• Collector of Stamps (Enforcement-II)

Convenience is Key: Shortening Queues, Saving Time

The primary benefit of this decision is the drastic reduction in time and effort spent by citizens. By being able to visit whichever office has the shortest queue, citizens can expedite the registration process for important transactions. This measure is expected to be a boon for prospective home buyers, property owners, and business entities dealing with real estate and legal documentation.

The Revenue Minister for the state of Maharashtra, Chandrsekhar Bawankule, highlighted the dual benefit of this forward-looking move.

“This is an important decision aimed at ease of doing business and living for the people of Mumbai,” said Chandrsekhar Bawankule. “It will allow citizens to register their property agreements at any office, thereby reducing their time and burden. Furthermore, by making the process less cumbersome, we anticipate more people will register their documents promptly, leading to an effective increase in revenue for the government. It’s a win-win for both the citizen and the state.”

The notification, signed by Satyanarayan Shivprasad Bajaj, Joint Secretary to the Government, confirms that the Government of Maharashtra has appointed these six officers to exercise the powers conferred under the Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958.

Also Read: Now register property agreement at builder’s office

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Extension of Amnesty Scheme

Initially launched on December 7, 2023, the Maharashtra Stamp Duty Amnesty Scheme was designed to remit or reduce stamp duty and penalties on specific documents, regardless of whether they were registered. The scheme was implemented in two phases: the first from December 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024, and the second from February 1, 2024, to March 31, 2024.

The Government has extended the first phase to February 29, 2024, and the second phase to June 30, 2024. Further extending the scheme, the new amendment now extends the second phase until August 31, 2024.

Expanded Scope of the Scheme

The extension also introduces new provisions for documents issued by registered Co-operative Housing Societies located on land governed by Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO), Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), or local municipal authorities. These include First Allotment Letters, Agreements, or Share Certificates executed on unstamped paper or letterheads.

Key Amendments to the Scheme

• Extension of Deadline: The scheme’s end date has been extended from June 30, 2024, to August 31, 2024.
• Inclusion of New Documents: The amendment adds a new category of documents to the scheme. This includes First Allotment Letters or Share Certificates related to residential or non-residential units issued by specific housing and development authorities.
• Updated Conditions: The revised order stipulates that only unstamped instruments specified in the new clause (g) of the Annexure will be eligible for the scheme.

Purpose and Benefits

The Maharashtra Stamp Duty Amnesty Scheme is aimed at facilitating the smooth registration of documents and relieving citizens of the burden of backdated stamp duties and penalties. By extending the scheme and broadening its scope, the Government aims to address various issues related to the registration of property documents and support housing development.

Next Steps for Applicants

Individuals and entities eligible for the scheme should ensure they apply within the new extended deadlines and meet the specified conditions to benefit from the reduced stamp duties and penalties.

The Government of Maharashtra continues to focus on providing relief to taxpayers and streamlining administrative processes through such initiatives, ensuring greater compliance and efficiency in property transactions.

Also Read: Mumbai sees more property registrations in Feb 2024 but collects less stamp duty than previous year

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