Rs 300 to Rs 5,000: Pune Bar Association Questions Sharp Rise in Registration Service Fees
Pune, 14th August 2026: The Pune Bar Association has urged the state government to reconsider the recent increase in fees for various services provided by the Registration and Stamps Department, stating that citizens are not receiving adequate facilities despite the higher charges.
The association submitted a memorandum to Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday, seeking a review of the revised fees and the withdrawal of unnecessary OTP requirements in the data entry and adjudication processes.
According to the memorandum submitted by association president Adv. Kaluram Bhujbal, the fee for pages in registered documents has been increased from ₹20 to ₹40 per page. The adjudication fee, which was earlier ₹100, has now been increased to between ₹1,000 and ₹5,000.
The association also pointed out that the minimum stamp duty for various documents has been raised from ₹100 to ₹500. The fee for affidavits has increased from ₹100 to ₹500, while the charge for doorstep services has risen from ₹300 to ₹5,000. The fee for certified copies has increased from ₹5 to ₹25 per page, while the charge for Index-II has gone up from ₹5 to ₹50.
The association said that despite the fee hikes, citizens continue to face problems with online services. In several cases, digital or scanned copies of documents available online are reportedly unclear or incomplete.
It has therefore demanded high-quality digital scans, legible document copies, faster online services, adequate waiting areas and basic facilities at registration offices, proper guidance for citizens, and an effective grievance redressal mechanism.
The association also raised concerns over OTP-based verification in data entry and adjudication processes. It said the requirement often causes delays when parties do not have access to their registered mobile phones, have changed their numbers or do not receive OTPs on time.
The association has sought the suspension of unnecessary OTP requirements and the introduction of a simpler alternative verification mechanism. It has also demanded that the mandatory requirement for a mobile number in Index-II be removed if it is not essential.
The Pune Bar Association further urged the government to consult bar associations, document writers’ associations and other professional representatives before implementing major fee-related decisions. It also sought greater transparency regarding the revenue generated through the increased fees and how the additional revenue is being utilised to improve public services.
The association has called for a state-level meeting to discuss these issues and take appropriate decisions.
Vice-president Kantaram Napte Patil, Prataprao More, secretary Samrat Jambhulkar, Abhijit Pol, Neha Jambhale, auditor Shivraj Nimbalkar, member Pooja Pawar, Yogesh Jain and other office-bearers and lawyers were present on the occasion.
