The archaic property registration procedure in Delhi may soon give way to a transparent and digitised mechanism with the city Government today approving a draft legislation that seeks to modernise the entire system.

The Delhi Survey Registration and Recordal of Title to Immovable Properties in Urban Areas Bill envisages setting up of a single, secure and efficient system for registration of immovable properties in the city.

The Delhi Cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, approved the draft legislation which seeks to give genuine owners a unique identification number and title for their properties. The draft bill will now be sent to Union Government for approval.

The proposed system, being structured on the lines of the one existing in European countries, will also stop all fraudulent property transactions as an online database of all genuine properties will be put in place to ensure transparency, officials said.

Dikshit said the bill will be presented in the Assembly after getting the go ahead from the Centre. The bill also envisages setting up of an Urban Property Registration and Title Recording Authority, which will be responsible for running the transparent and digitised mechanism for registration of properties.

The authority will comprise a chairman and a maximum of five members to be appointed by the Government. The Authority will conduct survey of immovable properties and assign unique identification number to properties, besides maintaining their electronic records.

It will also maintain the database of properties, issue certificates to genuine property owners and have power to impose penalties for violation of various provisions of the legislation.

Dikshit stated that the proposed system will reduce litigation and check fraudulent transactions.

Officials said the proposed system will improve urban planning. Tax collection will also go up substantially and boost government's investment capacity to create better infrastructure.

They said a dispute resolution mechanism will be set up under the new system to ensure speedy disposal of the cases related to property disputes.