Summary of this article
FIFO ensures fair, sequential property document processing.
Digital timestamps curb delays and manipulation.
System increases transparency and accountability state-wide.
Haryana has rolled out a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) system, which approves property-related documents, making it one of the state’s most significant administrative reforms. FIFO is designed to eliminate discretion, reduce delays and shut down long-standing loopholes that have created unnecessary lags in the entire process of land record registration. At the core, FIFO aims to bring a transparent workflow to the registration process, including approval of deeds, mortgages, and other land-related duties.
Under the new framework, applications will be processed in the order they are received. This means that no file can jump the queue, regardless of who submits it or which official is overseeing it. The government has said that the aim is to make the system more soundproof and free from external tampering. Every application will be digitally timestamped the moment it enters the system. Officers will also not have any room to delay files at their discretion.
The digital audit trail is vital as it reduces chances of property disputes and frauds.
According to officials, FIFO will reduce corruption by standardising workflow. In the earlier system, applicants had to make repeated visits to local offices or rely on middlemen who promised to 'fast-track' the process. With this new timestamp queue system, such practices will be minimised since the government will be able to monitor exactly how long an application remains at every stage. Any unusual delay will be visible in the backend and can be further investigated.
The state has also been under pressure to modernise the land administrative activities for a while.
Rapid urbanisation, rising real estate, and increasing demand for clarity in land transfers, titles, and ownership have necessitated reforms in land and property registration. Haryana’s property registry is among the busiest in the north India. The FIFO mechanism is expected to significantly clear the backlog by setting timelines and reducing manual intervention. The digitalisation is also going to eliminate any scope of external pressures to bypass the application queue.
For the residents, the biggest advantage is clarity, knowing where their application stands, when it was submitted, and when it is due for approval. It also removes any confusion and uncertainty surrounding property transactions. As for the administration, the benefit lies in accountability; the blame-game is going to seize as every delay will now be traceable.
