Gandhinagar: In a key reform of Gujarat’s land records system, the state government has decided to gradually phase out Village Form 7 (7/12) for non-agricultural (NA) land and make the property card the single authoritative record of ownership.

The move is aimed at eliminating the long-standing issue of dual land records, where the same property was reflected in both the rural revenue record (7/12) and the city survey property card. The parallel system often resulted in discrepancies, legal disputes and delays in property transactions.

The decision is part of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Revenue Department after consolidating earlier directions from the Settlement Commissioner and the Directorate of Land Records.

Under the new SOP, every NA survey number will be digitally linked to a corresponding property card before the village Form 7 record is closed. Revenue officials have been instructed to verify ownership details, land area and other entries before approving the transition.

District authorities will first create property cards wherever they do not exist and correct errors in existing records using approved NA orders, sanctioned layout plans and other supporting land documents. All updates will be carried out through the state’s online land records portal.

The SOP classifies NA land into four categories. After mapping and verification, officials will cross-check survey maps and land measurements before locking the records digitally. Each property will be assigned a unique property identification number.

To ensure continuity of legal records, all existing encumbrances, mortgages, liens and other rights currently recorded in the 7/12 register will be automatically transferred to the property card. Once the property card is digitally approved, the corresponding Village Form 7 will be discontinued for that property.

The government expects the reform to simplify property transactions, improve the accuracy of land records and eliminate duplication. The Revenue Department has directed collectors, mamlatdars, the Settlement Commissioner and the Directorate of Land Records to implement the SOP uniformly across Gujarat. DeshGujarat