Punjab: As co-op societies relent, deputy registrars will execute conveyance deeds on their behalf

Punjab: The Punjab government’s move to allow individual members of cooperative housing societies to register conveyance deeds for their properties is not going down well with many societies across the state. Members of these societies are complaining that managing committees are delaying their efforts to complete conveyance deeds under the government’s time-bound scheme, launched in November 2025. The scheme is valid for only 120 days (four months) from the date it was notified on November 20. Because the new time-bound scheme, which offers concessional stamp duty rates, strips management committees of the power to levy transfer fees and limits administrative charges to ₹10,000, they are reportedly trying to delay the completion of conveyance deeds. Some societies formed by employees/officers also fear that separate property registration will lose their identity, and members may then begin selling properties to outsiders. Because of this, the Cooperative Department is also receiving complaints about societies formed specifically for members of a specific service/organization, but they are unwilling to cooperate with those who wish to register their properties with a cooperative society. A senior official from the Cooperative Department told The Tribune, “The government has notified time-bound concessional stamp duty rates for registration of conveyance deeds in respect of properties allotted by cooperative housing societies, with the aim of helping members acquire legal title within the stipulated time.
To ensure that such members are not deprived of the time-bound benefit, we have now instructed the Deputy Commissioners of all districts that if the application submitted by a member before the Managing Committee of a cooperative housing society is not considered within 10 days, the concerned Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies may designate an authorised officer to execute the conveyance deed on behalf of the society and assist in the execution and registration of the conveyance deed in favour of the eligible member.” In cases where registration is delayed, the Government has permitted any eligible member to purchase stamp paper at the applicable concessional rate (1%, 2% or 3%, as the case may be) during the applicable concessional period and submit an application to the Managing Committee, a copy of which will be sent to the Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies of the district and the registering authority (the concerned Sub-Registrar), stating the intention to register the conveyance deed. Such purchase of stamp paper and submission of application will be considered as clear evidence of the intention to avail the concessional benefit within the notified period. The same concessional stamp duty rate will continue to apply for registration of the conveyance deed, even if the actual execution or registration takes place after the expiry of the four-month period.”