What is patta in Tamil Nadu?

A patta is the revenue record that names the person recorded as owner of a land parcel. It is not a title deed by itself, so buyers read it together with the registered sale deeds.

A chitta is the extract that lists a parcel's survey number, extent and land use as held in the village account. It helps confirm that the land matches the documents you were given.

State Guides

Tamil Nadu: Patta, Chitta and What They Do Not Prove

Revenue extracts show who is recorded, not who has a good title. Know the difference.

By The Land and Law Desk

9 Oct 2026Updated 18 Oct 20264 min read

Who this affects

Worth a read

Read this if you are buying land in Tamil Nadu or checking a seller's patta/chitta and matching them with deeds.

Buyers
Must match patta and chitta with title deeds and encumbrance certificate before paying; a patta in another name signals a problem.
Owners
Patta/chitta record who the revenue department shows as holder but do not by themselves prove conclusive title.
Sellers
Ensure your name appears in patta/chitta and disclose pending transfers or corrections when selling.
Lawyers & registrars
Use patta and chitta as important evidence to compare extents, survey numbers and the deed chain during title checks.

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Legal focus: explains what patta/chitta prove and why they must be matched with deeds; it's state-specific to Tamil Nadu.

Patta and chitta are Tamil Nadu revenue records. The patta names the person recorded as owner of a land parcel, and the chitta lists its survey details and land use. Buyers should match both with the title deeds and the encumbrance certificate before paying, because a patta in another name signals a problem.

Key takeaways

Patta and chitta record land holding for revenue purposes.
They are important evidence but not conclusive proof of title.
Match them with the deed chain.

Revenue extracts like patta and chitta are central to land dealings in Tamil Nadu. They show who the revenue department records as holder.

Check that the seller's name appears in the records
Compare extents and survey numbers with the deed
Ask about pending transfers or corrections

Records support a title check but do not replace one.

Frequently asked questions

What is patta in Tamil Nadu?: A patta is the revenue record that names the person recorded as owner of a land parcel. It is not a title deed by itself, so buyers read it together with the registered sale deeds.
What is chitta?: A chitta is the extract that lists a parcel's survey number, extent and land use as held in the village account. It helps confirm that the land matches the documents you were given.