Chandigarh, Jan 14: The Punjab Government has introduced a comprehensive reform framework to formalize property transactions in cooperative housing societies, many of which have remained unregistered for decades. The initiative, directed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, aims to resolve long-standing legal uncertainties by making property registration affordable and legally secure for thousands of residents.
“The Chief Minister has approved a set of reforms to ensure that property transactions in cooperative housing societies are formally registered and financially affordable for citizens,” the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) mentioned in an official statement on Tuesday.
Under the new guidelines, original allottees are now completely exempt from paying stamp duty on instruments of allotment. These registrations will be processed at face value, requiring only a nominal registration fee. This exemption extends to legal heirs, spouses, and eligible family members to protect genuine successor cases from financial burden.
To encourage non-original allottees and transferees to secure legal titles, the government has implemented a sliding scale of concessional stamp duty rates. According to the CMO, the duty is fixed at 1 percent for registrations completed by January 31, 2026. The rate will increase to 2 percent for those registering by February 28, 2026, and 3 percent for registrations finalized by March 31, 2026. Following this period, standard stamp duty rates will be reinstated.
The reforms also address the issue of arbitrary administrative costs. The state has placed a statutory cap on transfer fees that cooperative housing societies can charge their members.
“This measure ensures that members are not subjected to arbitrary or excessive demands at the time of transfer or registration,” the CMO noted, adding that the lack of clear titles has previously exposed families to avoidable litigation.
To ensure uniform implementation, the Department of Cooperation has issued instructions to Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Registrars across the state. Government officials said that the initiative is designed to incentivize registration rather than use coercive measures. Residents are urged to take advantage of this limited-time window to secure their property rights and ensure transparent ownership records.
