Patta & Chitta in Tamil Nadu: Land Records Guide for Coimbatore

Patta (பட்டா) is the primary land revenue record that establishes ownership of agricultural land and converted residential plots in Tamil Nadu. It is also called the Record of Rights (RoR) and is issued by the Revenue Department (Tahsildar's office).

What a Patta contains: • **Patta number**: Unique identifier for the land parcel • **Owner's name(s)**: All registered owners including joint holders • **Survey number and sub-division**: Exact land parcel identification • **Extent (area)**: Total area in hectares or cents • **Nature of land**: Wet land (irrigated) or dry land • **Tax assessment**: Annual land tax amount

Why Patta matters for buyers: • It proves who owns the land in revenue records • Banks require patta in the seller's name to sanction a home loan • It must match the sale deed — if patta is in a previous owner's name, the seller has not completed the transfer formalities • For plotted developments, each plot should have an individual patta after sub-division

Important: Patta is maintained by the Revenue Department and is separate from the Registration Department's records. A property registered at the SRO does not automatically update the patta — the buyer must separately apply for patta transfer after registration.

For apartments, patta is typically in the builder's/association's name for the entire land — individual flat owners hold UDS (Undivided Share) rights.

Chitta (சிட்டா) is a revenue document that records the classification and cultivation details of agricultural land. While patta establishes ownership, chitta describes the land's nature and usage.

What Chitta records: • **Thandal type**: Whether the land is assessed for wet cultivation (நஞ்சை/Nanjai) or dry cultivation (புஞ்சை/Punjai) • **Irrigation source**: Tank-fed, canal-fed, well-irrigated, or rain-fed • **Cultivation details**: What crop is being grown (historically) • **Assessment**: The annual land tax rate based on classification

Relevance for property buyers in Coimbatore:

Most properties within Coimbatore city limits and its expanding suburbs were originally agricultural land that has been converted for residential use through the DTCP (Directorate of Town and Country Planning) approval process. For such converted lands:

• The chitta may still show the original agricultural classification • What matters is whether a proper land use conversion order exists (from the Collector's office) • For DTCP-approved layouts, the conversion is implicit in the approval

For undeveloped agricultural land purchases on the outskirts (areas like Kinathukadavu, Pollachi Highway corridor), the chitta status is critical — non-agricultural use without conversion is illegal.

Note: Tamil Nadu has recently integrated patta and chitta records in the online eservices portal, so you typically get both in a single record.

Adangal (அடங்கல்), also called Village Account No. 2, is the village-level cultivation register maintained by the Village Administrative Officer (VAO). It provides ground-level details about land use and possession.

What Adangal records: • Name of the patta holder • Survey number and extent • Type of land use (cultivated, fallow, waste, residential, commercial) • Irrigation details • Encumbrances noted at the village level (some local mortgages/leases) • Names of actual possessors (if different from patta holder)

When Adangal is important:

• **Possession disputes**: If the adangal shows someone other than the patta holder in possession, there may be a tenancy claim or encroachment issue — investigate before buying • **Land use confirmation**: Confirms whether the land is currently used as residential or agricultural — critical for plots in peri-urban Coimbatore • **Original land character**: For revenue sites (revenue patta land as opposed to DTCP-approved plots), adangal is particularly important

How to get it: Adangal can be obtained from the VAO office or through the eservices.tn.gov.in portal. In Coimbatore, taluk offices at Coimbatore, Sulur, Mettupalayam, Pollachi, and Annur maintain adangal records for their respective villages.

For DTCP-approved residential layouts within Coimbatore Corporation limits, adangal is less critical since the land use is clearly defined by the planning authority.

The Tamil Nadu e-Services portal provides free online access to patta and chitta records. Here's how:

**Step 1: Visit the portal** Go to eservices.tn.gov.in and click on "Patta/Chitta" under the Land Records section.

**Step 2: Enter details** • Select district: Coimbatore • Select taluk: Choose the appropriate taluk (Coimbatore, Sulur, Mettupalayam, Pollachi, Annur, Kinathukadavu, or Valparai) • Select village: Choose from the dropdown • Enter survey number and sub-division number

**Step 3: View and download** The portal displays the patta record instantly. You can download it as a PDF. This is sufficient for basic verification.

**For official/certified copies:** Visit the Village Service Centre (VSC) or the nearby Aadhaar/CSC centre. You can also apply at the taluk office for a signed and sealed patta extract (₹30–₹100 fee). Online patta prints from eservices.tn.gov.in are now legally valid for many purposes including bank submissions.

**Common issues:** • If the survey number gives no result, check whether the land is within DTCP/CCMC zone — some urban lands may have been re-surveyed • Some recently sub-divided plots may not yet reflect the new patta holder — verify at the taluk office • Property tax patta (CCMC records) is different from revenue patta — banks typically need revenue patta

After purchasing a property and registering the sale deed, you must apply for patta transfer (பட்டா இடமாற்றம்) within 90 days. The revenue records must be updated to reflect your name as the new owner.

**Where to apply:** Coimbatore district has taluk offices at: • Coimbatore Taluk Office (for Coimbatore city areas) • Sulur Taluk Office (for Sulur, airport zone) • Mettupalayam Taluk Office (for Mettupalayam areas) • Pollachi Taluk Office (for Pollachi areas) • Annur Taluk Office (for Annur, Periyanaickenpalayam) • Kinathukadavu Taluk Office

**Documents to submit:** • Application form (available at the taluk office or online at tnesevai.tn.gov.in) • Copy of registered sale deed (attested) • Copy of existing patta (in seller's name) • Copy of EC for the past 13 years • Copy of property tax receipt (if applicable) • Copy of Aadhaar card of the buyer • Court fee stamp of ₹20–₹60

**Process:** 1. Submit documents at the taluk office Patta section 2. The VAO visits the site to verify possession (usually within 30 days) 3. After verification, the Tahsildar approves the patta transfer 4. New patta is issued in the buyer's name (typically within 30–60 days)

You can also apply online via the TNREGINET portal (select "Patta Transfer" under services) or through Aadhaar-seeded e-Services. Track your application status at tnesevai.tn.gov.in.

FMB (Field Measurement Book), called நிலவரைபடம் (Nilavaripadam) in Tamil, is the official survey sketch of a land parcel maintained by the Survey and Settlement Department of Tamil Nadu.

What FMB shows: • Exact shape and boundaries of the survey number • Dimensions of each side (in links/metres) • Relative position to neighbouring survey numbers • Location of water bodies, roads, or government lands adjacent to the plot • Sub-division details (how a larger survey number was divided)

Why FMB is critical: • It is the definitive reference for physical boundaries — helps you verify whether the plot you are buying matches the documented extent • Banks require FMB before sanctioning home loans on plot purchases • Used to settle boundary disputes with neighbours • DTCP/planning authority references FMB when approving building plans

**How to get FMB in Coimbatore:** • Visit the District Survey Office (DSO) in Coimbatore • Apply at the Survey and Land Records Department (same office) • Fee: ₹100–₹500 depending on the size and complexity • FMB is also available online through the Tamil Nadu Geographical Information System (TNGIS) portal for some survey numbers

Before purchasing any plot in Coimbatore, verify the physical plot dimensions on-site against the FMB sketch. Hire a licensed surveyor (₹2,000–₹5,000) to demarcate the boundaries if there is any doubt.

The A Register (also called the Basic Tax Register or Survey Register) is the fundamental land records register maintained village-wise by the Revenue Department. It lists all survey numbers in a village with area, assessment, classification, and owner details.

An A Register Extract for a specific survey number provides: • Survey number and its total extent • Classification (wet/dry, government/private) • Tax assessment amount • Patta holder name and patta number • Encumbrances noted in revenue records

**When you need it:** • To verify the total extent of a large agricultural land before purchase • To understand whether the land is subject to government acquisition orders • To confirm the original classification before conversion to residential use • For disputes involving survey number boundaries

**How to get it:** • Apply at the taluk office or VAO office with the survey number and village details • Alternatively, apply online through eservices.tn.gov.in or TNeSevai centres • Fee: ₹30–₹100 per extract

For urban residential plots within Coimbatore Corporation limits, the A Register is less frequently needed as CCMC/DTCP records are more relevant. It is most useful for agricultural land purchases, village plots, and properties in recently urbanized areas on Coimbatore's outskirts.

One of the most overlooked post-purchase tasks in Tamil Nadu is updating the patta after registration. Here's why it matters and how to ensure it is done correctly:

**Why it matters:** • Patta in the previous owner's name can cause problems during future resale — the next buyer will question the gap • Banks check patta during home loan processing; outdated patta delays approvals • Property tax assessment by CCMC is linked to ownership records • Government acquisition/compensation notices go to the patta holder

**How to track your patta transfer application:** 1. Note the application number when you submit at the taluk office 2. Track status at tnesevai.tn.gov.in or call the taluk office directly 3. Coimbatore Taluk office: +91-422-2301099 (main line) 4. Follow up if no response within 45 days

**If the VAO does not visit:** The VAO is required to visit the site for physical verification. If there is unexplained delay (beyond 30 days), visit the Tahsildar's office directly and submit a written follow-up. In practice, a well-connected advocate can expedite this process.

**After patta is issued:** • Verify the new patta shows your name correctly (spelling, address) • Verify the survey number and extent match your sale deed • Update your CCMC/local body property tax records with the new patta — visit the respective zone office of CCMC or the local panchayat office • Update your bank records (especially if you have a home loan) with the new patta