From Paper Titles To Digital Records: A Critical Legal Analysis Of Property Fraud In India
- IJLLR Journal
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
Harleen Kaur Jaggi, UPES Dehradun
ABSTRACT
The digitization of land governance in India, primarily through the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP), represents a structural shift from paper-based title systems to integrated digital platforms. Initiatives such as Bhoomi, Dharani and Bhudhaar, along with national systems like the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) and Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN), aim to create a unified, transparent, and tamper-resistant land record ecosystem. These platforms operate within a fragmented legal framework governed by statutes such as the Registration Act, 1908, Transfer of Property Act, 1882, and state- specific land revenue laws, while also engaging emerging digital regulations like the Information Technology Act, 2000. This paper critically examines whether these technology-driven systems effectively reduce property fraud traditionally manifested through title manipulation, benami transactions, and duplicate registrations or merely transform it into digital forms such as identity theft, database tampering, and cyber-enabled fraud. While digitization enhances accessibility, interoperability, and auditability, issues relating to data integrity, lack of conclusive titling, and weak cybersecurity frameworks persist. Through doctrinal and comparative analysis of statutory provisions and state-level platforms, the study evaluates the adequacy of existing legal safeguards and proposes reforms to ensure secure, fraud- resistant digital land governance in India.
Keywords: Digital Land Records, Property Fraud, Land Governance, E- Governance
