Non-resident Indian (NRI) property owners can carry out land transactions with ease now. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has lifted the mandate on Aadhaar card for securing e-khata on its new digitised system. Khata is the traditional form of property ownership document issued by the local municipal authority. e-Khata is the electronic version of the same.

On October 1 this year, the BBMP launched the online e-khata issuance system. Reports confirm that since then over six lakh e-khata copies have been downloaded by property owners. This is also because the State government of Karnataka has made the property document mandatory for registrations. Earlier, Aadhaar was mandatory for NRIs to download e-khata. That’s not the case now as most NRIs are not Aadhaar holders.

NRIs applying for e-khata must submit an identity proof such as a passport or driving license or voter ID card. They must visit the Assistant Revenue Officer (ARO) to apply for the document, by also providing a passport size photograph. Once the revenue officer processes the request, approval will take place electronically.

While registering a property, it is mandatory for NRIs to submit the sale deed number, property tax SAS (self-assessment system) number, and 10-digit account identification number of the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), besides e-khata.

However, there are no options for NRIs to apply for e-khata digitally via the website www.bbmpeAasthi.karnataka.gov.in. They will have to be present in person at the ARO’s office to start the process. – editor@nrifocus.com