Noida: Mandatory Aadhaar-based biometric verification for property registrations in UP, in force since Feb 1, is delaying registration of 30 to 35 properties a day in the city due to fingerprint mismatches.
Under the new UP Online Document Registration Rules, 2024, buyers, sellers and witnesses must all complete real-time Aadhaar authentication at sub-registrar offices through fingerprint or iris verification, along with electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) checks. Officials said more than 100 property registrations have been delayed over the past five days alone, with elderly applicants among the worst affected.
AIG-I (registration department) Arun Sharma told TOI that biometric machines have been installed at all sub-registrar offices to enable real-time authentication. "Biometrics are captured at the office and matched with Aadhaar records on the UIDAI portal at the time of registration under the new rule. Only if the biometrics match does the process move forward," he said.
If Aadhaar-based biometric verification fails even after an applicant has updated their details on the UIDAI portal, officials said the registry may be processed through a one-time password (OTP) system, but only in exceptional cases and with additional identity documents. "This is not a blanket exemption. OTP-based verification is being allowed only until the iris authentication system becomes operational," another official said.
Under the earlier rules, real-time Aadhaar authentication was not required. Applicants were only required to submit their PAN and Aadhaar cards at the time of land or property registration.
Officials and registry facilitators attributed most of the disruptions to fingerprint authentication failures, particularly among senior citizens. "Many of those facing problems are over 60. When their Aadhaar was first issued, their fingerprints were clearer. Over time, the ridges fade, leading to authentication failures," said advocate Mahesh Bhati, who assists with property registrations at the sub-registrar office in Gamma-2, Greater Noida.
In several cases, applicants' Aadhaar details are outdated or PAN details are not linked or readily available at the time of registration. Since the system does not permit manual override, registries are automatically halted if biometric verification fails. "Elderly applicants are often asked to return after a few days, which adds to their inconvenience," Bhati said.
Hukum Singh (79) of Lakhnawali village, who came to Gamma-2 sub-registrar's office on Monday, with the buyer and two witnesses to execute a sale deed for his property. While the others cleared biometric verification, his fingerprint authentication failed. "I had come expecting the registry to be completed in a single visit, but my biometrics did not match, and the entire process has been deferred. At this age, repeated trips to the office are very inconvenient. We were not aware that the rules had changed so strictly. Now, I will have to fix another date and go through the whole process again," he said.
AIG Sharma said stricter verification norms were introduced after several cases of fraudulent property transfers and impersonation were reported in recent years. "But delays were being reported daily. A solution is being worked out. Until then, affected individuals will have to wait," he said.
Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad together record over 1,100 property registrations daily across their sub-registrar offices.
Ashni Dhaor is a Special Correspondent with the Times of India, w...
Read MoreAshni Dhaor is a Special Correspondent with the Times of India, with over a decade of experience across print, electronic, and digital media. She specialises in long-form features, grassroots civic-policy investigations, and human-interest stories, covering urban development, local governance, nightlife, and evolving lifestyle trends in Noida and Ghaziabad.
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