Circular No. 40164/23/2016, Building Field Inspection, 26 June 2018
The Chief Controlling Revenue Authority and Inspector General of Registration, Tamil Nadu Registration Department, issued Circular No. 40164/23/2016 on 26 June 2018 to raise the building valuation limit for field inspections by registration officers from Rs.25 lakh to Rs.50 lakh and prescribe inspection procedures. It affects documents transferring buildings with land, including pending documents for which an Assistant Executive Engineer had not yet conducted an inspection.
What the circular governs
Circular No. 40164/23/2016 of the Tamil Nadu Registration Department governs the inspection and valuation of buildings included in documents presented for registration. Building measurements disclosed in Form 1-A must be used to calculate the building value in Form 1-B at the time of registration.
The circular is relevant to property owners and buyers registering transfers that include buildings, and to registration officers responsible for checking whether the stated building value is correct.
Who conducts the inspection
Circular No. 40164/23/2016 raises the building valuation limit for inspections and valuations by registration officers from Rs.25 lakh to Rs.50 lakh.
Key requirements include:
- Registration officers must inspect and value ordinary buildings where the building value calculated in Form 1-B is below Rs.50 lakh.
- Buildings valued at Rs.50 lakh or more must be inspected and valued by Public Works Department Assistant Executive Engineers working on deputation in the Registration Department.
- Special buildings, including theatres, mills, factories and marriage halls, must be inspected and valued by those Assistant Executive Engineers.
- An Assistant Executive Engineer must inspect and provide the valuation report within 10 days after receiving the proposal from the registration officer.
- If a registration officer initially calculates a value below Rs.50 lakh but later finds that it is Rs.50 lakh or more, the matter must immediately be sent to the Assistant Executive Engineer.
- Ordinary paddy milling and flour milling buildings may be inspected by Sub-Registrars, except modern rice mills.
Inspection safeguards and exceptions
Circular No. 40164/23/2016 requires the document holder to be notified by letter or telephone. Inspection must take place in the presence of the document holder or a representative, their acknowledgement must be obtained, and photographs must accompany the inspection report.
No field inspection is required for:
- Buildings valued up to Rs.1 lakh in village and rural panchayat areas.
- Buildings valued up to Rs.2 lakh in municipal and corporation areas.
- Buildings supported at registration by an approved plan from a town planning authority or local body. Their value must instead be calculated in the office using Form 1-C.
- Specified family settlement, partition and release documents where the prescribed maximum stamp duty and registration fee have been paid.
The procedures also apply to documents pending without inspection. Uninspected documents below Rs.50 lakh held by Assistant Executive Engineers must be returned to the relevant Sub-Registrar for action under these guidelines.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Who will inspect an ordinary building valued below Rs.50 lakh?
The registration officer must inspect and value an ordinary building where the building value calculated in Form 1-B is below Rs.50 lakh.
Do I need a field inspection if I submit an approved building plan?
No. If an approved plan from a town planning authority or local body is submitted during registration, the valuation must be prepared in the office using Form 1-C.
Will I be told before the building inspection takes place?
Yes. The document holder must be notified by letter or telephone, and the inspection must occur in the presence of the document holder or a representative.
Does the Rs.50 lakh limit apply to documents already awaiting inspection?
Yes. The circular applies to pending documents where an Assistant Executive Engineer has not yet conducted the inspection. Pending documents below Rs.50 lakh must be returned to the relevant Sub-Registrar for action under the prescribed procedures.
