Registration and Stamps Department is related to some of the most important events in person’s life. It incorporates buying and selling of immovable property, payment of stamp duty, marriage registration and such activities. It is estimated that about two crore citizens avail the services of the department annually.

The Registration came into force in India in 1908. However its foundation is seen in document registration system used by the then East India Company in the 18th century in areas under its rule. During the British period, the authority to register documents vested with the Magistrates. Later on, a separate system was evolved for this purpose and thus a separate registration department came into being.

Collection of tax through Stamp Duty began in 1815 in Mumbai. Thereafter in 1827, separate system and offices were established for sale of stamps and collection of stamp duty in the Bombay region. Thus, the system of stamp duty collection has a history of about two centuries.

After independence, the Registration Department functioned under the Revenue and Forest Department under the control of the Settlement Commissioner. Considering the nature of work, expanse and importance of Registration Department and Stamps Department, a new department was formed in 1988 by merging the two departments. This new unified Department of Registration and Stamps started functioning under control of Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamps.

Since then, the graph of this department has been consistently on the rise. The new activities included streamlining of stamp duty rates from time to time, conceptualization of Market Value and implementation of annual statement of rates. These measures led to increase in the revenue of the department and in turn have significantly contributed in the development of the State. Today, the Registration and Stamps Department ranks second after Sales Tax Department in terms of revenue collection.

In the last few years, the department has made significant changes in the system of document registration. ‘SARITA’ the computerized system for registration of document was introduced in 2002. In 2012 ‘i-SARITA’ a centralized web based online registration system was introduced for efficient registration. The department has also introduced online facilities like e-Payment, e-Search, e-ASR etc. The department has recently introduced ‘e-Registration’, an online registration system to facilitate registration of first sale of flats in large housing projects and also of leave and license agreements, without having visit to the Sub-Registrar’s office. The department is continuing its revolutionary steps for delivering speedy, efficient and citizen friendly service.

Since 2014, the Department has implemented an integrated project 'Sarathi' for publicity, promotion and dissemination of information so that necessary information about the services to be provided by the Department is easily available to the citizens and the citizens have benefited significantly through the helpline.

From 2015, the integration of registration (i-SARITA) and Land Record department's software has been done. It helps for the mutation of records to the L R department. The same facility was also introduced to the property card also in 2021.

The e-Payment of DHC (Document handling charges) is introduced in 2019 as a part of "Cashless India Initiative".

Names of officers, who hold the charge of Inspector General of Registration and controller of stamp, Maharashtra State, Pune :

Shri. Hiralal Sonawane (IAS) Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamps

Administrative Structure of Registration and Stamp Department:

• The Registration and Stamp Department is a Department under the Revenue Department of Government of Maharashtra and is under the control of the Minister (Revenue).
• At Mantralaya level, the Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue, Stamp Duty and Registration) is the Secretary of the Department.
• The Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamp, Maharashtra State (IGR) is the Head of this Department and his office is located at Pune. IGR is the chief of the machinery for registration of documents in the state. Similarly, as per Stamp Act, he is the Chief Controlling Revenue Authority.
• In the Head office, to assist IGR, there are posts of Superintendent of Stamps (HQ), Deputy Inspector General of Registration (HQ), Deputy Inspector General of Registration (Computerisation) and Deputy Director of Accounts. These officers are assisted by Desk Officers.

At Field level, the structure of the Department is as follows:

1. There are 516 offices of Sub-Registrars in the entire state for registration of documents. In the rural areas, generally there is one office for each taluka
2. To monitor the offices of sub-Registrars, there are 39 offices of Joint District Registrars at District level.
3. There are 8 Regional Divisions of the Department in the State at Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Amravati and Latur and they are under the control of Deputy Inspector General of Registration
4. The Collectors of Stamps of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban Districts are under the control of Additional Controller of Stamps, Mumbai.
5. The Sub-Registrars of District Headquarters in the State perform the function of special marriages registration. However, there are independent offices of Marriage Officers for the 3 districts Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban and Pune.
6. There are 7 offices of Deputy Director/Assistant Director, Town Planning (Valuation) for preparing Annual Statement of Rates and they are under the control of Joint Director, Town Planning (Valuation) at State level.
7. Government Photo Registration Office in Pune functions to preserve the records of documents photographed in the past.