Legal checklist for buying land in Amaravati: eleven documents, five questions

The eleven documents

1. The registered sale deed, or the LPS allotment deed, in the seller's name.
2. The parent documents that make up the chain: back to the farmer's first registration for an LPS plot, or 30 years for farmland.
3. The final allotment certificate under the LPS rules (9.14), for a returnable plot.
4. An encumbrance certificate from IGRS AP for the full period.
5. The pahani/adangal and 1B extract from Mee Bhoomi for the original survey number.
6. The APCRDA layout unit map showing the plot, or the layout permission number for a private layout.
7. Current property tax or land revenue receipts.
8. The seller's Aadhaar and PAN, matching every deed.
9. A survey sketch or plot marking report.
10. Any court orders, partition deeds or release deeds in the family.
11. For agricultural land, proof that the parcel is patta land and not assigned or government land.

The five questions to ask

• Is any part of the plot or parcel affected by a road, canal or utility line? Get APCRDA's reply in writing.
• Is there a court case? Search the High Court and district court cause lists by the seller's name and the survey number.
• Is the seller the recorded owner, or only a GPA holder? Buy from the owner.
• Are you legally allowed to buy this category of land? See NRI buyers.
• Is the agreed price at or above the registration market value? Duty is charged on whichever is higher.