Is an online patta valid without a signature?

Yes. G.O.(Ms) No.303 of 27 December 2016 made the digitally signed, QR-coded A-Register and Patta legally valid land records, equal to signed copies, where online patta transfer is in force. The Directorate of Survey and Settlement has told officials not to insist on attestation by the Tahsildar. Anyone can check an extract by scanning its QR code.

Why does the portal ask for my mobile number?

On 22 October 2026, the view forms for patta, chitta, A-Register, FMB and TSLR asked for a 10-digit mobile number and a six-digit OTP before showing the record. The poramboke check and the application status page use only a captcha. Viewing is still free. For help, the Directorate of Survey and Settlement lists helpline 1100.

Do I need to apply for patta transfer after buying?

Often not. The Revenue Department's Policy Note 2024-25 says patta transfer is triggered immediately after online registration, so no separate application is needed for current registrations. Under G.O.(Ms) No.84 of 2020, sales with no subdivision are mutated automatically when the Sub-Registrar's checks are all yes. Other cases go through the Tamil Nilam workflow, with updates by SMS.

How do I apply for patta transfer online?

Register on the Tamil Nilam Citizen Portal (tamilnilam.tn.gov.in/citizen) with your name, email and mobile number, and log in with an OTP. Choose Not Involving Subdivision or Involving Subdivision, enter the deed and survey details, attach the deed and ID proof, and pay the Rs 60 fee online. Track it under Application Status on eservices.

Can I appeal against a patta order?

Yes. Revenue Standing Order 31 8(A), as quoted by the Commissionerate of Land Administration, allows an appeal against the Tahsildar's or Deputy Tahsildar's order to the Revenue Divisional Officer, and a revision to the District Revenue Officer against the appeal order. Each must be filed within 30 days of receiving the order.

How is the chitta different from the A-Register?

The chitta is arranged by patta number and shows the holders and their survey numbers. The A-Register is arranged by survey number and records the subdivision, patta number, extent, tax, soil type, land type, water source and owner name for rural land. Both are free to view on eservices.tn.gov.in with the same district, taluk and village.

Record guide

Patta and Chitta in Tamil Nadu

Patta and Chitta in Tamil Nadu are the Revenue Department's records of who holds a piece of land, with its survey number, extent and type of land. View them free at eservices.tn.gov.in under View Patta / Chitta / FMB - (Rural / Natham). Select the district, taluk and village, then enter either the patta number or the survey and subdivision numbers, and verify a 10-digit mobile number with an OTP. The extract carries a QR code. Under G.O.(Ms) No.303 of 27 December 2016, the digitally signed, QR-coded A-Register and Patta are legally valid land records, equal to signed copies, and officials are told not to insist on attestation. To change the patta after a purchase, apply on the Tamil Nilam Citizen Portal for a Rs 60 processing fee. Many sales that do not split a survey number are now mutated automatically after registration, as of 22 October 2026.

Definition

Patta and Chitta: The revenue registry of a land holding. The patta is the registry entry in the holder's name. The chitta, maintained by the Village Administrative Officer, gives the area, size and ownership of each survey number in that patta and says whether the land is dry or wet.

When you need it

Before you buy land or a house site, to check that the seller's name is on the patta for the exact survey and subdivision number in the deed, and that the land is private, not government poramboke. After registration, check it again to see that the patta has moved to your name. The portal's terms say its content should not be treated as a statement of law, so read it with the title deeds and the EC.

Steps

Open eservices.tn.gov.in/eservicesnew/index.html (English) and click View Patta / Chitta / FMB - (Rural / Natham).
Select the district, taluk and village.
Choose Patta Number (Chitta Full Details) or Survey Number (Chitta With FMB), and select Rural or Natham.
Enter the patta number, or the survey and subdivision numbers. For survey number 24/2, enter 24 and 2. For 24 with no subdivision, enter 24 and a hyphen (-).
Enter your 10-digit mobile number, click Get OTP, enter the OTP and submit. Download the extract.
To check a printed extract, use Verify Patta / Chitta - (Rural / Natham), which asks for the reference number of the chitta extract, or scan its QR code.
To check whether the land is government or private, use Verify Government / Private (Poramboke) Land.

What you need to search

District, taluk and village
Land type: Rural or Natham
Patta number, or survey number and subdivision number
A 10-digit mobile number to receive the OTP
To verify an extract: its reference number

Fees

Patta and Chitta fee. Source: eservices.tn.gov.in, as of 2026-10-22.

Viewing and downloading patta, chitta, A-Register and FMB is free. Patta transfer: Rs 60 processing fee at a Common Service Centre or on the Citizen Portal. Subdivision fee: Rs 400 (rural), Rs 500 (municipality) or Rs 600 (corporation) per subdivision (G.O.(Ms) No.370, 21 July 2020). (source: https://eservices.tn.gov.in/eservicesnew/applicationfee_details.html?lan=en, as of 2026-10-22. Verify with sub-registrar.)

How to read it

The chitta lists, for one patta number, each holder's name with a relative's name and relationship, and each survey and subdivision number with its extent and type of land. Check that every holder named has signed the sale deed, and that the survey number, subdivision and extent match the deed. Names are in Tamil. The portal asks users not to use the browser's translate option, because it may change the names.

Red flags

The seller's name is not on the patta for the survey number being sold
Joint patta holders who are not all parties to the sale
The survey number shows as government (poramboke) land
The extent in the deed is larger than the extent in the chitta
A sale of part of a survey number with no subdivision done
The seller offers only a photocopy attested by an official, not an extract you can verify online or by QR code

Questions

Is an online patta valid without a signature?: Yes. G.O.(Ms) No.303 of 27 December 2016 made the digitally signed, QR-coded A-Register and Patta legally valid land records, equal to signed copies, where online patta transfer is in force. The Directorate of Survey and Settlement has told officials not to insist on attestation by the Tahsildar. Anyone can check an extract by scanning its QR code.
Why does the portal ask for my mobile number?: On 22 October 2026, the view forms for patta, chitta, A-Register, FMB and TSLR asked for a 10-digit mobile number and a six-digit OTP before showing the record. The poramboke check and the application status page use only a captcha. Viewing is still free. For help, the Directorate of Survey and Settlement lists helpline 1100.
Do I need to apply for patta transfer after buying?: Often not. The Revenue Department's Policy Note 2024-25 says patta transfer is triggered immediately after online registration, so no separate application is needed for current registrations. Under G.O.(Ms) No.84 of 2020, sales with no subdivision are mutated automatically when the Sub-Registrar's checks are all yes. Other cases go through the Tamil Nilam workflow, with updates by SMS.
How do I apply for patta transfer online?: Register on the Tamil Nilam Citizen Portal (tamilnilam.tn.gov.in/citizen) with your name, email and mobile number, and log in with an OTP. Choose Not Involving Subdivision or Involving Subdivision, enter the deed and survey details, attach the deed and ID proof, and pay the Rs 60 fee online. Track it under Application Status on eservices.
Can I appeal against a patta order?: Yes. Revenue Standing Order 31 8(A), as quoted by the Commissionerate of Land Administration, allows an appeal against the Tahsildar's or Deputy Tahsildar's order to the Revenue Divisional Officer, and a revision to the District Revenue Officer against the appeal order. Each must be filed within 30 days of receiving the order.
How is the chitta different from the A-Register?: The chitta is arranged by patta number and shows the holders and their survey numbers. The A-Register is arranged by survey number and records the subdivision, patta number, extent, tax, soil type, land type, water source and owner name for rural land. Both are free to view on eservices.tn.gov.in with the same district, taluk and village.

Sources

E-Services of Land Records - Department of Survey and Settlement, Tamil Nadu
Fee source — as of 2026-10-22

Last reviewed 22 Oct 2026 by LawyerDesk Team

Quality check: 9 of 6 required sections filled. General information only, not legal advice.

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