Hyderabad: The hike in real estate prices in the capital region has given rise to a new problem of fake succession certificates being made for the purpose of registering properties of dead persons.

“Legal heirs” are also using family members’ certificates for the purpose of registration, which is not legally valid.

Tullur mandal tahsildar A. Sudhir Babu said, “In case of death of a person, who did not leave a will, the court may grant a succession certificate in order to realise securities or debts of the deceased.

A civil court issues a succession certificate to the legal heirs. For registering the property of a dead person without a will, a succession certificate is valid.

Family member certificates cum proper persons certificates include names of wife, sons and daughters. Applicants seek this certificate stating that the dead person has left deposits in banks which they want to claim.

The family member certificate is also valid for claiming government benefits, but not for property registration.”

He added, “However the buyers who want to get the lands of dead persons registered seek this certificate so that they get the signatures of all the family members on the registered document. As such the certificate is not valid for registration.”

The official added that with announcement of the capital, the mandal revenue office was receiving at least five to six applications a day for family membership certificates.

Telugu Desam MLA from Vijayawada city, Gadde Ram Mohan said, “People have to go to court for getting the certificate.

To avoid delay and the cumbersome process, people are approaching brokers who are giving fake certificates.

The brokers are collecting Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000 for each succession certificate. Unaware that they are fake certificates, people are using them for registrations and landing in trouble.”

Talking about recent cases, he said, “A few days ago a woman registered the land of her husband after his death. She approached two brokers, one of whom said that it would cost Rs 60,000 while the other asked for Rs 30,000.

So the woman went with the cheaper broker. The broker gave her a fake certificate. She didn’t know about it went and registered the land with it.

Later the other broker who came to know about this lodged a complaint with the police. A criminal case was registered with the police against the woman as well as the broker.”

The MLA has represented the issue to Chief Minister Mr Chandrababu Naidu who has assured to study the possibility of the Mandal Revenue Officer himself issuing a certificate similar to a succession certificate, which can be used for land registration.

“CM has assured that he will get experts to study the issue and take necessary remedial measures to ensure an easy and legal way,” said Mr Gadde Rammohan. He said tahsildars would be given powers to issue such certificates.

Officials said that it was difficult to get a central Act amended and the state was pursuing alternative solutions.