Chhattisgarh launches mobile-based application ‘Sugam’ to help prevent property-related fraud, tax evasion and middlemen

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government has introduced a new mobile application called “Sugam” aimed at preventing property-related fraud and tax evasion while streamlining the document registration process for the public. The app allows individuals to register documents without the need for intermediaries, ensuring a more transparent and efficient system.

Commerce and Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary officially launched the “Sugam” app, emphasizing the importance of a public-friendly Registration Department. He instructed department officials to ensure that the registration process remains smooth and free of any inconvenience for the public. The Minister specifically stressed the need to eliminate the involvement of middlemen in the registration process.

During a recent review meeting, Minister Choudhary identified unnecessary delays in stamp cases and document registration, urging district registrars and sub-registrars to address these issues within a set timeframe. He reminded officials of their responsibility as public servants, encouraging them to work with integrity, transparency, and a positive attitude to contribute to India’s development.

The new app will also enable individuals to search for and download copies of old documents online without needing to visit the office, simply by paying the prescribed fee.

Minister Choudhary further instructed that district registrars should conduct mandatory inspections of all major documents, up to a specified 10% limit, to prevent any form of tax evasion. He made it clear that Chhattisgarh’s guideline rates are already lower than those in other states, and property valuations should not fall below these rates. Registered stamp cases must be resolved within a month, and stamp refund processes should be completed within a week. An extensive campaign will be initiated to recover outstanding revenues, with mandatory on-site inspections of all major documents, ensuring that no document remains pending for an unreasonable period due to inspection delays.

To improve efficiency, Minister Choudhary called for a revision of the Registration Department’s setup. He proposed a fourfold increase in the number of registration officers in Raipur, Durg, and Bilaspur districts, which collectively contribute 60% of the state’s total revenue. With 260 out of 505 sanctioned positions currently vacant, he directed immediate recruitment to fill these roles. The Minister also instructed that proposals for constructing buildings for sub-registrar offices without proper facilities be submitted without delay and ordered the installation of CCTV cameras and biometric systems in all offices to enhance security and accountability.