Bhagwant Mann Govt introduces landmark reforms to secure property rights in cooperative housing societies

CHANDIGARH(The Uttam Hindu): In a landmark decision aimed at strengthening property rights and easing long-pending legal uncertainties, the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has introduced major citizen-centric reforms to benefit residents living in Cooperative Housing Societies. Acting on the directions of the Chief Minister, who also holds the Cooperation Department portfolio, the Government has approved a comprehensive framework to make registration of cooperative housing properties affordable, secure, and legally robust, while ensuring legitimate recovery of stamp duty for the State.

Sharing details of the decision, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that the Punjab Government has taken far-reaching steps to formalise property transactions in cooperative housing societies, many of which have remained unregistered for decades. “The Chief Minister has approved a set of reforms to ensure that property transactions in cooperative housing societies are formally registered, legally secure, and financially affordable for citizens, while also safeguarding the State’s revenue interests,” the statement said.

Explaining the key provisions, the Chief Minister’s office stated that instruments of original allotment executed by Cooperative Housing Societies in favour of their original members have been completely exempted from stamp duty. “Such registrations will be permitted at face value, with only a nominal registration fee payable,” the CMO said, adding that the same exemption has also been extended to legal heirs, spouses, and eligible family members, as defined and notified by the Department of Revenue, to ensure that genuine successor cases are fully protected.

To further enable thousands of families to secure clear legal title to their homes, the Government has introduced highly concessional, time-bound stamp duty rates for non-original allottees and transferees, notified on January 12, 2026. “Under this decision, stamp duty has been fixed at 1 percent for registrations completed up to January 31, 2026, 2 percent for registrations up to February 28, 2026, and 3 percent for registrations up to March 31, 2026. After this period, normal stamp duty rates will apply,” the CMO said.

The CMO further noted that the Punjab Government has also placed a clear statutory cap on transfer fees that may be charged by Cooperative Housing Societies. “This measure ensures that members are not subjected to arbitrary or excessive demands at the time of transfer or registration,” the CMO said, explaining that these reforms were necessitated because a large number of properties in cooperative housing societies had remained unregistered for years, leaving families without clear legal ownership and exposing them to disputes and litigation.

Noting up the impact of the initiative, the CMO said that the reforms ensure legally secure ownership for citizens, lawful recovery of stamp duty for the State, encouragement of registration through incentives rather than coercion, and protection of members from unreasonable transfer charges by societies. The Department of Cooperation has already issued detailed directions to Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Registrars across Punjab to ensure smooth and uniform implementation of these measures.

Appealing to residents, the CMO said that the Chief Minister has urged all eligible residents of cooperative housing societies to avail of this limited-period opportunity, get their conveyance deeds registered, and secure their property rights. “This initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to protecting the common citizen while ensuring lawful, transparent, and orderly property transactions across Punjab,” the CMO added.