Conclusive land titling
Also called: Conclusive titling, Torrens system · Topic: Land Reforms, the Green Revolution and Farm Subsidies · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
In conclusive land titling, the state guarantees who owns a piece of land. If the official record turns out to be wrong, the state pays compensation to the person who loses. This is the Torrens model, which comes from Australia. It would replace India's present presumptive system, where records only presume ownership and can be challenged in court. Accurate, digitised land records are needed before this can work.
Example
NITI Aayog has circulated a draft Model Conclusive Land Titling Act. Rajasthan's Urban Land (Certification of Titles) Act 2016 was the first state law of this kind, for urban land. Under such a system, a buyer can rely on the state's title record without fearing a court case later.
Don't confuse with
- Presumptive titling: registered deeds and records only presume ownership, and the state gives no guarantee. That presumption can be challenged in court.
- Land records digitisation: this means computerising records and maps, for example under DILRMP. Digitisation makes conclusive titling possible but does not by itself guarantee title.