The Tamil Nadu Registration Department has announced a series of reforms for 2026-27 aimed at making property registration more accessible, reducing the workload of registration officials and strengthening checks against fraudulent property transactions. The reforms, announced as part of the department's demands for grants for the financial year, focus on expanding digital services, improving document verification and reducing congestion at registration offices. One of the key measures is the integration of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department and the Waqf Board with the Registration Department's STAR 2.0 system. Through API-based integration, authorised officials will be able to directly update details of properties that are prohibited or restricted from registration. The department will also introduce real-time verification of death and legal-heir certificates through API technology. Certificate numbers submitted during the registration process will be verified electronically as soon as they are entered into the system. The move is expected to prevent fraudulent registrations involving fake or invalid certificates. Another major change involves the reorganisation of Sub-Registrar Office jurisdictions. Under the new arrangement, an entire revenue village will come under a single registration office, which is expected to simplify jurisdiction-related issues for property owners and buyers. To reduce queues and congestion, the department plans to establish 25 model registration hubs across North Chennai, Central Chennai, South Chennai, Chengalpattu and Coimbatore North registration districts. The department also plans to expand presenceless registration in phases. From September 15, registration of deposit of title deeds and receipt documents relating to loans obtained from banks and non-banking financial companies will be made mandatory through the online system. The reforms also include a Rs 1 crore allocation for training registration officials to improve their ability to operate digital systems and implement the new procedures. In another administrative change, mandatory Saturday duty will be discontinued in 100 Sub-Registrar Offices, with the move aimed at reducing the workload of officials. The latest reforms mark a broader shift towards digital property registration in Tamil Nadu, with greater emphasis on online verification, electronic records and technology-based safeguards. The measures are expected to make property registration more transparent and convenient while strengthening the system against fraudulent transactions.