Delhi High Court: Government Must Ensure Implementation of Delhi Online Registration System for Document Preservation

Delhi High Court: Government Must Ensure Implementation of Delhi Online Registration System for Document Preservation

The Delhi High Court while perusing an affidavit submitted by Principal Secretary, (Revenue), Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) in a matter related to lost documents, ordered the Delhi Government to ensure that the necessary systems and cloud service is made available to all the Sub-Registrars’ offices so that the documents can be preserved.

The single judge Justice Prathiba M. Singh directed that Principal Secretary (Revenue), GNCTD shall be personally responsible to ensure implementation of the Delhi Online Registration System (DORIS) for document preservation.

The factual matrix of the case was that a petition was filed in January, 2023 by Monk Estates Private Limited seeking directions to inquire about missing records from the Sub-Registrar-III’s office in Delhi. The records pertained to the execution and registration of lands owned by the petitioners. An FIR was registered in 2019 after a 14-year delay.

The Court had expressed serious concerns about the missing records and directed authorities to investigate the matter seriously.

Subsequently, in February 2023, the concerned Sub-Registrar filed a status report stating that only a Lost Report had been registered in 2019, however, no investigation was conducted.

The Court had asked detailed information about the DORIS system used for document registration and directed the Principal Secretary (Revenue) to ensure its effective implementation in all Sub-Registrar offices.

Dissatisfied with the report, the Court had directed the Sub-Registrar and PS-Daryaganj to conduct a proper investigation and convert the report into an FIR.

Counsel for the Respondents submitted that the reconstruction of documents had been done and certified copies of the documents had been received by the Petitioners.

The Court on perusal of the affidavit submitted by the Respondent, expressed its disbelieved that although a system has been designed, it is not clear as to whether the same is implemented fully.

The Court thus instructed the GNCTD to continue the investigation into the missing records and register an FIR if necessary.

Noting the facts and submissions of the case, the Court observed, “Insofar implementation of the DORIS systems is concerned, the GNCTD is directed to ensure that the necessary systems and cloud service is made available to all the Sub-Registrars’ offices so that the documents can be preserved without a situation as arose in the present case being repeated. For the said purpose the Principal Secretary (Revenue), GNCTD shall be personally responsible to ensure implementation of the DORIS system.”

Furthermore, the Court directed the Revenue Secretary to call for a periodic status report on the investigation conducted regarding the FIR registered in relation to missing land records of the entity.

Therefore, while disposing the plea the Court emphasized that if a FIR needs to be registered, the steps must be taken within three months. Officials responsible shall also be identified and action shall be taken. The Secretary (Revenue) shall be personally responsible for giving effect to these directions, ordered the Judge.

Advocate Rachna Aggarwal appeared for the appeared for the petitioners and Advocate Avishkar Singhvi appeared for the Respondents.