Patta is the document issued by Revenue department at Tamil Nadu
in the rank of Tahsildar. This document ensures that the land is owned
by the patta holder i.e., the name mentioned in the patta and it is not a
government land. This also record the type of land in the land
registry of the Govt about the type of land, owner of the land and other
statistical information required by the Govt.
1) The patta is important because it establishes lawful ownership and possession of a property, and is a powerful tool that can be used in case of property disputes. In case of government acquisition of land too, the patta holder is paid compensation, as s/he has the first right to title over that property.
2) Whenever a piece of property is acquired through purchase or through inheritance, it is important to carry out the mutation of revenue records in the name of the new owner. This is to ensure that the patta is held by the person who now legally owns the property, and to make sure that future disputes can be solved.
3) No matter what sort of property it is, having a patta is important. In the case of vacant plots of land, of course, it is absolutely essential as it is the primary document which establishes lawful possession and which carries details about the extent of the property and its measurements. In the case of buildings or apartments, however, the position of the patta is not as vital. This is because the patta is essentially a document relating to land and not to the buildings that stand on it.
4) Patta land is always privately owned and can be sold and purchased freely.
5) Separate pattas are not issued in case the land is shared by multiple parties, but is still not divided between the different owners. However, a patta can be issued jointly to all the co-owners.
6) A patta, once issued, need not be renewed until a transaction through purchase, bequest or court decree takes place.
