The stamp duty and the registration department had drafted new norms to cut down an alarming rise in fraud in property transactions.

The changes said by an official notice recently issued, deal with authentication of Individuals, and adding an obligatory declaration of birthmarks and different marks in the body.

When the registration is on the parties will be requested to provide details of identification marks on visible areas of the bodies. Though it’s an optional, it will be in their interest, when they want to verify the identity during the deed.

Strengthening real estate prices have led to an increase in fraud transactions, with rising complaints about wrong doings in documents, especially by persons posing as property owners. At some places sub-registrar had to face legal action and 15 cases were filed last year against them and identifiers.

The department has been collecting photos and thump impressions of persons registering documents to verify the legitimacy of witness and identity papers also. Mobile numbers and e-mail IDs will also be sought.

A person can now testify as a witness for only one document a day. This is done to rein in the agents, who often pose as witnesses without knowing parties involved in the deal. Limitations have been leveled in cases involving registration of multiple documents at the same time.