How to read 7/12 land record is very important question everyone faces before buying a land in India because land holds great emotional value, especially for people who have moved from villages to cities and dream of owning land to build their homes. Similarly, urban residents often aspire to buy a farmhouse. However, purchasing land is not as simple as buying a gadget from a store. Many people rely on lawyers to verify land records. But reading 7/12 land record in Maharashtra and its key terms can help you make informed and confident decisions when buying land.
What is 7/12 land record?
In Maharashtra, land records are maintained in village registers. The 7/12 land record combines two forms:
- Form 7 (Record of Rights): It is also called ‘Record of rights’. For the common persons it can be similar to details of land ownership.
- Form 12 (Register of Crops): Form 12 is appended to form 7 above and contains information about crops grown on the land.
These two forms merge into one document, the 7/12 extract, which offers a complete record of land ownership , rights of persons interested in land and crop cultivation details. Reading 7/12 to help understand legal issues involved is big step in making property decisions.
How to read 7/12 and its key terms ?
- Survey Number
Each piece of land in a village is uniquely numbered as a survey number or Gat number. Sometimes, these survey numbers are further divided into sub-survey numbers. - Gat Number
Maharashtra’s government has consolidated small survey numbers into larger units called Gat numbers, replacing survey numbers in many cases. - Occupancy
This is the most important entry in the 7/12 extract. An occupant is a person who legally owns and possesses the land. Occupants must pay land revenue to the government. There are two types of occupancy:- Occupancy Class 1: These lands are transferable and can be sold, mortgaged, leased, exchanged, gifted, or inherited.
- Occupancy Class 2: These lands are government-granted and cannot be transferred without government permission.
- Name of Occupant
This column lists the names of landowners and the area they hold. It also includes a mutation entry number, which helps trace ownership history. - Khata Number
Each landowner in the village gets a unique khata number linked to a specific page in the register. This number helps identify the total area owned by a person across various locations in the village. - Area
The total land area, including cultivable and non-cultivable portions (locally called “pot kharaba”), is mentioned in the left column. The area is assessed based on rates provided in the form’s assessment table. - Other Rights
This column, on the right side, records additional rights linked to the land. It includes:- Loans taken against the land.
- Ownership details of wells and bore wells.
- Tenancy rights.
- Names of others with an interest in the land.
- Information on pending court cases (lis pendens).
Form 12
Form 12 documents the types and details of crops grown on the land. Form 7/12 is considered to be of the year last shown in the form 12only. Therefore before buying land, ensure these records are up-to-date, including data for the current year. Even for purchasing of land. this is essential for accurately valuing the land for ready recknor rate and calculation of stamp duty depends on it . Buyers must verify these crop records for proper evaluation.
Conclusion
Reading the 7/12 land record is essential for anyone involved in property transactions in Maharashtra. one can download 7/12 for free https://bhulekh.mahabhumi.gov.in/ .Knowing key terms like occupancy, khata number, and other rights can help buyers make informed decisions and avoid legal complications. By mastering these details, you can handle property purchases more confidently and efficiently.