The Supreme Court of India has suggested to both the Union and State Governments that land records and registered documents should be digitised using secure, tamper-proof technologies such as blockchain. This recommendation came while the Court was deciding a civil appeal involving a long-standing property dispute, where it also restored a lower appellate court’s judgment on the validity of a registered sale deed.
Why the Court Made the Suggestion
The Bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Manmohan emphasised that property records need to be truly reliable and secure to prevent forgery, fabricated claims, and “clever drafting” that often lead to prolonged litigation. Blockchain technology, as a shared digital ledger, ensures that once a transaction such as a sale, mortgage, or transfer is recorded, it becomes immutable and cryptographically secured.
The Court observed that using such technology could help instil confidence in titled property transactions, reduce disputes that clog the judicial system, and support ease of doing business.
What Blockchain Offers
Blockchain works like a distributed, timestamped digital record that cannot be altered without detection. Once a land transaction is entered, it stays—providing a clear, verifiable history of ownership and transfers, helping protect against tampering.
