Chennai: A complaint has been raised in the Tamil Nadu Registration Department that more than 200 sub-registrars, district registrars and assistants are using postings described as “foreign duty” to remain in locations of their choice and wield influence.
Tamil Nadu has 589 sub-registrar offices, but full-time sub-registrars are not available in about half of them. In offices with heavy document flow, district registrars or assistants had been handling registration work, but district registrars have since been moved away from such duties and assigned administrative work.
As a result, more than 200 assistants continue as in-charge sub-registrars. Sub-registrars allege that, under registration law, only sub-registrars are authorised to carry out document registration, yet assistants are being allowed to function as in-charge officers, effectively sidelining regular sub-registrars.
They further claim that an in-charge arrangement should not exceed 20 days when a post falls vacant, but in high-volume offices in regions such as Chennai, Tiruchi, Thanjavur and Tirunelveli, full-time sub-registrars have been absent for nearly three years. The complainants allege that some staff seek specific offices for collections, with support from district registrars and DIG-level officials.
Sub-registrars said they have petitioned the head of the department. Officials have reportedly assured that efforts are under way to promote eligible assistants and appoint full-time sub-registrars, and that a solution would be implemented after the elections.
