Kollam, Kerala: The Ente Bhoomi portal, intended to simplify land registration services following the completion of digital land survey, will not initially allow individuals to prepare property deeds on their own. In the first phase, land registration will be permitted only through authorised document writers or advocates.

In villages where the digital survey has been completed, login IDs will be issued only to document writers and advocates — without assigning Citizen IDs — via the integrated Ente Bhoomi portal, which combines land-related services of the Revenue, Registration, and Survey departments.

Earlier, it was stated that login IDs would be given only to the buyer and seller under the term Citizen ID. However, acknowledging the professional role of document writers, it was later decided to extend login access to them and advocates as well. A government order to this effect has not yet been issued.

The process for enabling land registration through the integrated portal is in its final stages within the Revenue and Registration departments. The Registration Department is preparing templates for nearly 30 types of deeds, including sale deeds, partition deeds, and gift deeds.Apparently, the decision to initially allow registration only through document writers and advocates comes from concerns that individuals may face difficulties handling the complexities involved in preparing such documents independently.

As part of a pilot project, the scheme is expected to be launched in 14 villages across 14 districts. There is also a proposal at higher levels to implement it in all digitally surveyed villages. Although the Ente Bhoomi portal is designed to eventually allow individuals to prepare their own deeds, this facility will be introduced later through the issuance of Citizen IDs.