G.O. (Ms) No.394, COVID-19 Lockdown Extension with Certain Relaxations, 2021
The Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department issued G.O. (Ms) No.394 dated 5 June 2021, extending the complete COVID-19 lockdown throughout Tamil Nadu from 6.00 A.M. on 7 June 2021 until 6.00 A.M. on 14 June 2021, with district based relaxations. It affected property transactions by allowing Sub-Registrar Offices to open with only 50 per cent of the usual daily deed registration tokens.
What the document does
The Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department issued G.O. (Ms) No.394 dated 5 June 2021 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It extended the complete lockdown across Tamil Nadu until 6.00 A.M. on 14 June 2021 and continued existing permissions while adding different relaxations for specified districts and the remaining districts.
The restrictions applied only for the lockdown period stated in the document. No activities were permitted in containment zones.
Effect on property registration
G.O. (Ms) No.394 allowed Sub-Registrar Offices to open, but required them to issue only 50 per cent of the usual daily tokens for registration of deeds. This could reduce the number of sale deeds and other property documents accepted for registration each day.
Property buyers, sellers and professionals seeking registration during the covered period could therefore face limited appointment availability. The document does not change registration law, document requirements, stamp duty or registration fees.
District based restrictions
G.O. (Ms) No.394 identified the following districts where the spread of COVID-19 had not come under control:
- Coimbatore
- Nilgiris
- Tiruppur
- Erode
- Salem
- Karur
- Namakkal
- Thanjavur
- Tiruvarur
- Nagapattinam
- Myladuthurai
In those districts, permitted activities included standalone provision, vegetable, meat and fish shops from 6.00 A.M. to 5.00 P.M., wholesale fish markets in suitable open spaces, wholesale slaughterhouses, government offices with 30 per cent staff, restricted Sub-Registrar services and matchbox manufacturing with 50 per cent workforce.
Additional activities were permitted with restrictions in the other districts. These included certain repair, hardware, electrical goods, automobile spare parts, stationery and service businesses, generally from 6.00 A.M. to 5.00 P.M.
Travel, construction and essential services
G.O. (Ms) No.394 continued permission for essential services, agriculture, goods transport, medical services, banking with limited staff, utilities and specified industries. Ongoing construction was permitted only where workers stayed at the construction premises.
Inter-district and interstate individual travel was allowed for medical emergencies and funerals with e-registration. Intra-district travel for those purposes did not require e-registration. Emergency travel to specified tourist locations required an e-pass from the relevant District Collector.
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
Were Sub-Registrar Offices open for property registration?
Yes. G.O. (Ms) No.394 allowed Sub-Registrar Offices to open, but only 50 per cent of the usual daily deed registration tokens could be issued.
Did the document change stamp duty or registration fees?
No change to stamp duty or registration fees is stated in the document. It only restricted the daily number of registration tokens during the lockdown period.
Could construction work continue during the lockdown?
Ongoing construction at the site was permitted only when the workers stayed within the construction premises.
Were any activities allowed inside containment zones?
No. The document states that no activities were permitted in containment zones.
