Dehradun: Following an inspection at the Vikasnagar registrar office on May 4, the Dehradun district magistrate on Thursday wrote to the state government recommending the suspension of sub-registrar Apoorva Singh and initiation of departmental action against her.
Inspection Exposes Massive Irregularities
The inspection, followed by a preliminary inquiry conducted by a sub-divisional magistrate, exposed massive stamp duty evasion, procedural violations, and gross negligence in record management. District Magistrate Savin Bansal personally led the inspection, which uncovered original title deeds dating back to 2018, 2024, and 2025 found in the office under suspicious circumstances.
Details of Violations
Numerous registered documents were withheld in the office for months. Additionally, 25 registered deeds were found dumped, unrecorded, and without any official intimation, for which no explanation was provided. Bansal found 150 illegal and unlawful registrations pertaining to ‘Golden Forest’ accounts — transactions explicitly prohibited by an order of the Supreme Court.
Preliminary investigation revealed instances where registrations were executed for land explicitly restricted from sale, constituting a clear violation of established regulations. The DM stated that the role of other employees is also under scrutiny.
Stamp Duty Evasion and Revenue Loss
The inspection and preliminary inquiry conducted by an SDM identified 47 specific cases involving stamp duty evasion, leading to revenue loss of several crores. Officials said appropriate legal action will be initiated in these cases.
Lack of Transparency and Record Management Lapses
The inspection also exposed a lack of transparency in office operations, negligence in the maintenance of records, violations of procedural norms, and serious lapses in overall record management. A comprehensive inquiry is also underway, said the DM.
DM's Recommendation for Suspension
“Apoorva Singh, sub-registrar, Vikasnagar, held office at both Sub-Registrar offices from September 11, 2023, to October 8, 2025. Consequently, she is solely responsible for the irregularities that occurred during her tenure. In view of the seriousness of the irregularities, it is strongly recommended that Apoorva Singh, sub-registrar II, Vikasnagar, should be suspended for not discharging her official duties with honesty and dedication, and departmental disciplinary action should be initiated against her,” read the DM’s recommendation to the finance secretary.
