Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 30 August 2025
In a major reform aimed at simplifying property transactions and promoting ease of doing business, the District Administration, South Andaman has withdrawn the mandatory requirement of producing a No-Dues Certificate from the Municipal Council, Sri Vijaya Puram, for registration of sale deeds and other property-related documents in the Office of the Sub-Registrar, South Andaman. The order has come into effect with immediate effect.
Until now, the National Document Registration System (NGDRS) portal checklist required applicants to furnish a No-Dues Certificate before registering property documents. However, a review revealed that neither the Registration Act, 1908 nor the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 mandates such a condition.
While Section 17 of the Registration Act specifies the documents that are compulsorily registrable, Section 71 empowers the Sub-Registrar to refuse registration only in cases of non-compliance with the provisions of the Act or related rules. Similarly, the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 does not impose any requirement for a No-Dues Certificate from the Municipal Council as a pre-condition for transfer or registration of property.
Recognizing that the additional requirement created avoidable hurdles for citizens, the Andaman & Nicobar Administration decided to withdraw the non-statutory condition. The move aligns with the Government of India’s Ease of Doing Business framework, which focuses on delivering hassle-free citizen services, enhancing transparency, and eliminating procedural bottlenecks.
Exercising powers under the Registration Act, the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, ordered the withdrawal of the requirement and directed all concerned officers, including the Sub-Registrar, to ensure strict compliance.
The decision is expected to bring significant relief to property buyers and sellers by streamlining registration procedures and removing an unnecessary step from the process.
