No fee will be charged for online land records, plot information: Suvendu

In a move aimed at improving access to public services and reducing the financial burden on citizens, the West Bengal Government’s land and land reforms department has waived all application and authentication fees for obtaining digitally signed copies of land records and plot information online.

The decision, which comes into immediate effect, was announced by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday through a post on his X.

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“Our Government is committed to ensuring that citizen services are transparent, hassle-free and easily accessible. I am delighted to announce today that we have officially waived the application fee (enquiry charges) that the previous Government levied for obtaining Records of Rights (RoR) and Plot Information,” he wrote.

“From now on, you will be able to download digitally signed copies of your Record of Rights and Plot Information online completely free of charge. No application fee or authentication fee will be required to access these digital land records. This initiative will directly benefit landowners across the State, particularly our farmers,” the Chief Minister added.

নাগরিক পরিষেবা যাতে স্বচ্ছ, ঝামেলামুক্ত এবং সহজলভ্য হয়, তা নিশ্চিত করতে আমাদের সরকার প্রতিশ্রুতিবদ্ধ।
আজ অত্যন্ত আনন্দের সাথে ঘোষণা করছি যে, খতিয়ান (Record-of-Rights) এবং জমির দাগের তথ্য (Plot Information) পাওয়ার জন্য পূর্ববর্তী সরকার যে অ্যাপ্লিকেশন ফি (enquiry charges) আদায়… pic.twitter.com/H2H2SuVvu5

— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) July 3, 2026

The announcement follows a notification issued by the Department of Land and Land Reforms and Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation on July 2, amending the Bengal Records Manual, 1943, under powers conferred by Section 57 of the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955.

This notification replaces the existing provisions under Rules 320H and 320I, which required payment of fees for accessing digitised land records.

Under the amended Rule 320H, any person applying online for a Khatian or Record-of-Rights prepared under the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955, will now be entitled to receive a digitally signed copy free of cost. No application fee or authentication fee will be charged, irrespective of the number of pages in the record, it stated.

Applicants will also be able to seek multiple Khatians through a single online application without incurring any charges.

Similarly, the amended Rule 320I provides that digitally signed soft copies of plot information available in the digitised land records database will also be supplied free of cost. The Government has clarified that no application or authentication fee will be payable for these documents.

However, the notification makes it clear that the exemption applies only to digitally signed online copies.

Existing charges for certified hard copies and other physical documents issued under the Bengal Records Manual will continue to remain in force.

The notification mentioned that the objective of these amendments is to improve access to public services, reduce the financial burden on citizens, promote transparency and facilitate hassle-free electronic delivery of land-related information.

The order was issued after receiving a go-ahead from the state Finance Department.