Circular No. 40164/23/2016, Building Field Inspection Value Limit, 2018
Tamil Nadu Registration Department Circular No. 40164/23/2016, dated 26 June 2018, was issued by the Principal Revenue Controlling Officer and Inspector General of Registration. It raises the building valuation ceiling for field inspection by registration officers from Rs.25 lakh to Rs.50 lakh, changes which buildings must be inspected by Public Works Department Assistant Executive Engineers, and provides consolidated inspection procedures.
What the circular governs
Tamil Nadu Registration Department Circular No. 40164/23/2016 applies when a document transferring property, including a sale deed, covers both land and a building. Building details must be disclosed in Form 1-A, and the building value must be calculated in Form 1-B during registration.
The circular aims to reduce delays caused by sending an increasing number of documents to Assistant Executive Engineers for building inspection.
Who inspects the building
The Principal Revenue Controlling Officer and Inspector General of Registration gives the following directions:
- The building valuation ceiling for field inspection by registration officers is increased from Rs.25 lakh to Rs.50 lakh.
- For ordinary buildings, registration officers must inspect and value buildings falling within their permitted limit.
- Buildings valued in Form 1-B 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 cinemas, mills, factories and marriage halls, must also be inspected by those Assistant Executive Engineers.
- An Assistant Executive Engineer must complete the inspection and provide the valuation report within 10 days after receiving the proposal.
- If a registration officer initially calculates a value below Rs.50 lakh but finds on inspection that it is Rs.50 lakh or more, the matter must immediately be sent to the Assistant Executive Engineer.
Inspection safeguards and exemptions
- The document holder must be informed of the inspection by letter or telephone.
- Inspection must take place in the presence of the document holder or representative, and their acknowledgement must be obtained.
- Photographs must be taken and attached to the inspection report.
- Sub Registrars may inspect ordinary paddy or flour milling buildings, excluding modern rice mills.
- No field inspection is required for buildings valued up to Rs.1 lakh in village and rural panchayat areas, or up to Rs.2 lakh in municipal and corporation areas.
- No field inspection is required if an approved building plan from the planning authority or local body is produced at registration. Valuation must then be prepared in Form 1-C using the approved measurements.
- Specified family settlement, partition and release documents must not undergo building inspection if the prescribed maximum stamp duty and registration fee have been paid.
The revised procedure also applies to documents still awaiting inspection. Pending documents below Rs.50 lakh are to be returned to the relevant Sub Registrar for action under these directions.
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
Will every sale deed containing a building require a field inspection?
No. Field inspection is not required where an approved building plan from the planning authority or local body is filed at registration. The office must value the building from the approved measurements in Form 1-C.
Who inspects a building valued at Rs.50 lakh or more?
A Public Works Department Assistant Executive Engineer working on deputation in the Registration Department must inspect and value it. The same applies to special buildings such as cinemas, mills, factories and marriage halls.
Must the property owner be present during inspection?
The document holder must be informed by letter or telephone. The inspection must be conducted in the presence of the document holder or representative, their acknowledgement must be obtained, and photographs must be attached to the report.
Does the increased limit apply to documents already awaiting inspection?
Yes. It applies to documents pending with Assistant Executive Engineers where inspection had not yet taken place, and pending documents below Rs.50 lakh must be returned to the relevant Sub Registrar for action.
