Registration offices across the State including in Nagpur resumed normal functioning on Tuesday after officers and employees of the Registration and Stamps Department called off their indefinite state-wide strike following assurances from State Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule that those responsible for assaulting a sub-registrar in Pune would be traced and brought to justice. The strike had forced all 523 document registration offices in the State to remain closed on Monday, disrupting property registrations and inconveniencing thousands of citizens. According to officials, around 10,000 to 12,000 property documents could not be registered during the day, resulting in an estimated Rs 200 crore loss in State revenue. The agitation was launched in protest of the alleged assault on Ravindra Koli, Co-Sub-Registrar at the Haveli No. 20 document registration office in Pune.

 

According to officials, Koli was allegedly attacked by a group of persons after he refused to register property documents that did not meet the prescribed requirements. He sustained injuries and was admitted to hospital, following which the Registration and Stamps Department lodged a police complaint. Employee associations had earlier declared that the strike would continue until all the accused were arrested. They had also demanded enhanced security at registration offices and strict action against those involved in the assault.

 

Speaking in the city on Monday, Bawankule assured that the Government had taken the incident seriously and that the culprits would be identified and dealt with strictly, irrespective of their identity. Following discussions between the Minister and representatives of the employees' associations, the agitation was withdrawn late on Monday. Inspector General of Registration Ravindra Binwade also met Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and urged swift action against the accused. With the strike withdrawn, document registration services resumed across Maharashtra on Tuesday.