Growing fear among sub-registrars over police action

Koppal: The Karnataka State Registration and Stamps Department Employees Association urged the director general and inspector general of police (DG&IGP) to step in against what it termed ‘unwarranted harassment' of deputy registrars, sub-registrars, and other department staff in connection with civil property disputes.In a detailed representation submitted on Feb 17, Association president BH Shankaregowda said officials were increasingly being summoned to police stations for inquiry in disputes arising out of property transactions that were registered in the normal course of official duty.He contended that in many such cases, FIRs were being registered against sub-registrar officers without obtaining prior sanction from the head of the department.The Association stated that in several recent instances across the state, sub-registrars were named in criminal complaints on the presumption that they were personally involved in disputed transactions, merely because they registered documents in their official capacity.Pradeep Kumar, the sub-registrar of Koppal, described as ‘regrettable' the recent arrest of a sub-registrar from Hukkeri in Belagavi district in a case relating to alleged irregularities in a property registration matter. The incident, he said, has caused widespread concern among officials.The representation pointed out that both the high court of Karnataka and the Supreme Court of India, in multiple judgments, clarified that sub-registrars cannot be held criminally liable in cases of impersonation or when forged documents are presented for registration, provided they acted within the scope of their statutory duties.Under the Registration Act and relevant rules, the Association noted, the responsibility in cases of impersonation lies with the identifying witnesses, while in cases involving forged documents, the liability rests with the parties executing the documents, not with the registering officer.Citing Section 218 of the Indian Civil Security Code, 2023, the Association emphasised that no FIR can be registered, nor arrest made, against a govt servant for alleged negligence committed in the discharge of official duties without prior govt sanction. It alleged that this safeguard was being overlooked in recent cases.The employees' body further claimed that there was a growing trend of FIRs being filed under pressure from ‘unseen hands' in sensitive property disputes. In some districts, officers were reportedly called to police stations and subjected to questioning and threats, creating what the Association described as an atmosphere of fear within the department.The Association sought clear instructions from the DG&IGP to subordinate police officers to ensure that statutory protections for public servants are adhered to, and that officials discharging their duties under the Registration Act are not unnecessarily implicated in civil disputes.It warned that continued action without due procedure could adversely affect the functioning and morale of the registration and stamps department across Karnataka.