Pune Citizens Express Concern Over Scrapping of Online Rental Agreement Scheme

Pune: The state registration department on Thursday scrapped the decade-old authorised service provider (ASP) scheme to execute online leave and licence (L&L) agreements, even as citizens expressed dread over problems arising as a result.

The state issued a circular to announce the decision. In 2015, the state trained and authorised 3,500 people under the ASP scheme to execute rental agreements either at their office for Rs700 or at people's doorstep for Rs1,000. The ASPs, as the trained personnel were known, handled all technical requirements — including thumb scanners and webcams — to finalise agreements. Now, tenants and landlords will either have to depend on lawyers and agents or purchase the equipment themselves, while learning how to draw up L&L agreements.

Citizens are dreading the shift which will make registrations tedious and expensive. Meera Kaup plans to lease out her flat in Pune. She said, 'The ASP process made agreements hassle-free — especially in Mumbai, Pune, and Thane. Many will avoid registering formal L&L agreements in its absence.' The decision is particularly unfair to senior citizens who are eager to rent out flats, but fail to handle technical formalities, she added.

RR Rao stays in south Mumbai and rents out his property regularly. He said, 'Registered ASPs were dependable. The system could have continued with certain checks in place. Citizens were benefiting and the government was earning revenue. People will have to turn to lawyers or fly-by-night operators now and it will increase risks of fraud.' The situation will be similar for people in Satara, Kolhapur, and Nashik, he added.

A Pune-based man, who has leased out his flat to medical students in Satara, said he will have to pay Rs3,000 to his lawyer to draw up the agreement. 'ASPs with their regularised rates were affordable and the agreement was executed easily,' he added.

Meanwhile, trained service providers have echoed concerns of citizens. President of the Association of Service Providers, Sachin Shingvi, said, 'Rental agreements are an essential document to open bank accounts and for loans, passports, and RTE admissions. Most citizens lack equipment and knowledge to manage e-registration independently. ASPs ensured smooth services.'

ASPs had invested nearly Rs1.3 lakh each in laptops, scanners, and webcams as mandated, he said, adding, 'Now, citizens will suffer and ASPs have been left in the lurch. We have written to state revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and sought a meeting.'

In the circular issued on Thursday (Aug 28), state inspector general of registration and stamps, Ravindra Binwade, cited complaints and irregularities against some ASPs and rising digital literacy among reasons to scrap the scheme. 'It was difficult to monitor such a large number of providers. Also, we had started to receive complaints against them,' said a senior department official. Citizens can turn to lawyers and agents for assistance, as in property sale deeds, he added.

The department maintained that the ASP scheme, initially introduced on a pilot basis, had served its purpose. The circular said, 'The need for ASPs has diminished with growing digital literacy and wider access to online services. In public interest, appointment of ASPs for online L&L registration stands cancelled with immediate effect.' All divisional registration offices have been directed to reconcile deposits collected from ASPs and process refunds.

However, service providers said the scheme created employment for educated youth and strengthened the online registration process, while boosting state revenue. A Pune-based ASP said, 'The circular has been issued without any substantial findings against us. Instead of cancelling our appointment, the government should have supported the system and expanded it to services like online marriage registrations and partnership deeds. Scrapping it is problematic for citizens, too.'