e-SWATHU in Karnataka

1. What is Form-9?

Answer: Form-9 is a document issued by the Gram Panchayat for non-agricultural properties in its jurisdiction as per Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Grama Panchayat Budgeting and Accounting) Rules 2006, Amendment Rules 2013 mentioned under Rule 28. Gram Panchayats can issue Form 9 only for properties that are- a) duly converted as per the provisions under of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act,1964 by the respective Revenue Department Office and also have approved plans sanctioned as per the Town and Country Planning Act and other related enactments by the respective Urban Development Department Plan sanctioning office. b) For the Basava, Ambedkar and Indira Awaas Yojana Government housing scheme beneficiaries as per the Housing Department circular dated 30.01.2012 bearing number HD 55 HAS 2011. c) For properties which are attested by the Tahsildar through a sketch certifying the location as located within the Gramathana of the village as per Revenue Department circular bearing No. RD 174 MUNOMU 2005 dated 23.08.2005 and bearing No. RD 146 ASD 2013 dated 14.06.2013.

2. What is Form-11?

Answer: Form-11 is a document issued by the Gram Panchayat for non-agricultural properties in its jurisdiction as per Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Grama Panchayat Budgeting and Accounting) Rules 2006, Amendment Rules 2013 mentioned under Rule 30. Form-11 register is also called as Register of Demand, Collection and Balance of land and building.

3. What for form-9 and form-11 are used?

Answer: For the Gram Panchayats Form Number 9 and 11 are essentially instruments for property tax collection. Gram Panchayats are local civic bodies and and are authorised as per section 199 of the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act,1993 to collect property taxes. However the Revenue department in its circular no ಆರ್ ಡಿ 344 ಮುನೋಮು 2005 dated 06-04-2009 as amended in 2013 has made Form-9 and Form-11 mandatory documents for non agricultural properties coming under the jurisdiction of Grama Panchayats for carrying out registration. Hence citizens seeking to sell their property apply for Form 9 and 11 in Gram Panchayats.

4. How is an application required to be submitted in the Gram Panchayat for Form 9?

Answer: For an application to be submitted in the Gram Panchayats for issue of Form-9 the following documents need to be necessarily appended by the applicant a) If the property is claimed to fall within the Gramthana- i) Gramthana sketch with the property certificate surveyed and certified by the Tahsildar. b) If the property is claimed to be converted property the following document copies need to be necessarily appended- i) Ownership documents and Conversion order issued by the Revenue dept. ii) Ownership documents and Plan approval given by the competent authority in Urban Development Dept. c) If the property is granted in a govt. Housing scheme such as; Basava Vasati, Ashraya, Indira Awas Yojana the following needs to be appended- i) Hakkupathra issued by the competent authority and sanction order. For all these three categories, the following documents also need to be enclosed, i) Photograph of the applicant and any ID and address proof like Ration Card, PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, Passport.

5. What is the time required for Gram Panchayat for issue of Form-9?

Answer: On 1-4-2011 issue of Form-9 by the Gram Panchayats (ತೆರಿಗೆ ನಿರ್ಧರಣಾ ಪಟ್ಟಿ/Alteration to assessment register) has been notified as a Sakala Service and each Gram Panchayat has been given 45 days for issue of Form-9.

6. Are there any restrictions for issuing Form-9 and Form-11?

Answer: Yes, Form-9 can be issued to only to those properties which are falling under any one of the following categories. 1. Gramathana sites. 2. Sites formed out of duly approved layout approved by competent authority 3. Sites sanctioned under different Government beneficiary schemes. Form-11 can be issued to all the properties which have Form-9 and also to the properties which are not falling under any of the above categories but already part of existing demand register.

7.Who issues Form-9 / Form-11?

Answer: The Gram Panchayat office issues the Form 9 and 11 through the Panchayat development Officer and the Gram Panchayat Secretary. First time the request for Form-9 and Form-11 is a process in workflow based software called e-SWATHU . Subsequent issue of copy of Form-9 and Form-11 will be within 03 days from date of application on payment of prescribed fee.

8. Will I get receipt for having paid prescribed fee?

Answer: In every document issued fee collected along with date and place of issue will be printed.

9. Who is the competent authority for issuing conversion orders?

Answer: Deputy Commissioner of the district (Revenue Department) is the competent authority for issuing conversion orders.

10. Who is the competent authority for approving the layout plan?

Answer: Concerned Town Planning Authority duly constituted under the Karnataka Country and Town Planning Act 1960 is the competent authority for approving layout plan. In the absence of any such authority, Director, Town Planning is the competent authority.

11. Whether Form-9 and Form-11 issued for Grama Panchayats need ink signature?

Answer: No, all the Form-9 and Form-11 issued from Grama Panchayats after 15-06-2013 are digitally signed by Panchayat Development Officer (PDO); hence no ink signature of any Grama Panchayat officials is required for these documents.

12. What is the significance for ‘ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಪತ್ರದ ಕ್ರಮ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ’ in form-9 and form-11 issued from e-SWATHU?

Answer: Every document issued will have unique certificate number which is printed under heading ‘ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಪತ್ರದ ಕ್ರಮ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ’. Use this certificate number to cross check the genuineness of the document.

13. How to check genuineness of the form-9 and form-11 issued from the Panchayat?

Answer: Every form-9 and form-11 is issued on secured stationery and Hologram is pasted on the certificate. One can see the water mark in the paper on which form-9/form-11 is issued and every paper is numbered and it is printed in top right corner. The system of issuing certificate on secured stationery with hologram is in practice only in three districts namely Bangalore, Bangalore (Rural) and Ramanagara. For the benefit of all districts including Bangalore, Bangalore (Rural) and Ramanagara, a facility has been provided to check genuineness of document issued. This can be done by clicking link ‘verify document / ದಾಖಲೆ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸು’ on the home page of e-SWATHU software, software prompts for certificate number. On entering certificate number, originally issued certificate will be shown for comparison purpose.

14. Are there any other means by which genuineness of certificate can be verified?

Answer: Yes, one can verify the genuineness of certificate by reading the 2d-barcode printed on the certificate which contains digital signature of PDO. Details pertaining to procedure to be followed will be published in this section shortly.