Maharashtra Allows Free Regularisation of Small Land Plots; 7/12 Records to Be Fixed

Mumbai, Maharashtra:
Maharashtra has announced a major relief measure for thousands of landowners struggling with old land-related problems. The state government has now allowed free regularisation of small land parcels that were bought without proper permission or that violated the Fragmentation Act. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the move will benefit nearly 60 lakh property owners and close to three crore people across the state.

This decision will apply to land transactions carried out between November 15, 1965, and October 15, 2024. With this, nearly six decades of pending or doubtful land deals can finally be legally accepted and corrected.

In Maharashtra, the 7/12 extract, also known as Saat-Baara Utara, is one of the most important land documents. It contains details about the landowner, the type of land, the crops grown on it, and any rights or restrictions linked to the property.

For many families, errors in this document or remarks about legal violations made it difficult to sell their land, transfer it to someone else, or even claim ownership. The government’s new decision aims to remove all such hurdles.

With the new policy in place, old cancelled mutation entries will be rechecked and approved so that the rightful buyer’s name can be added as the official occupant. Names that were previously listed under the “other rights” section will now be moved to the main ownership category.

Importantly, remarks such as “transaction against the Fragmentation Act,” which often created fear and uncertainty among landowners, will be removed from the record. Once the corrected 7/12 extract reflects the buyer’s name clearly, the land can be sold or transferred without any issues.

A large number of people in rural and semi-urban areas purchased land only through notarised papers or stamp papers without completing the formal registration. These transactions were never fully recognised by the government, leaving owners in a difficult position.

Under the new rules, talathis and circle officers will help landowners complete the registration process. After paying the normal stamp duty and registration fees, their names will also be added to the 7/12 extract. Earlier, people had to pay a hefty penalty of 25 percent of the land’s market value, which was later reduced to 5 percent. Even then, many could not afford it. With the penalty now removed entirely, the process has become completely free.

The government has clarified that the decision covers all major planning areas, including regions under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), as well as planning zones in Pune and Navi Mumbai. It also includes residential and commercial zones, cantonment areas, non-agricultural regions, and village gaothans along with their surrounding areas.

Government officials across districts have already received the necessary instructions following a gazette notification issued on November 3.

For many families, this announcement brings long-awaited clarity and peace of mind. Landowners who have spent years dealing with uncertainties in their documents can now expect clean 7/12 records, proper ownership recognition, and freedom to finally sell or transfer their land without worry. Old penalties, warnings, and restrictions will be wiped out, giving people a fresh start.

The move is being viewed as one of the most important steps in recent years to simplify land ownership and bring transparency to property records in Maharashtra.

By Sana khan
Content Writer, Realty Quarter