Pune: The state registration department on Thursday launched an inquiry after a video surfaced on social media showing non-staffers allegedly accessing a govt computer at the sub-registrar’s office in Chandannagar early last week.Joint inspector-general of registration Rajendra Muthe directed the department officials to conduct an inquiry and submit a report next week. Joint district registrar Mangesh Khamkar is carrying out the inquiry. He said officials had started scrutinising the documents registered between Aug 17 and 21. “We will randomly inspect documents to see if there were any improper registrations during this period or loss of revenue,” Khamkar said.Deputy inspector-general of registrations (IT) Abhay Mohite visited the Chandannagar sub-registrar’s office (SRO) and conducted checks. “The (registered) documents will be checked as a part of the inquiry,” Mohite told TOI, adding that the video was also being examined.Officials said the video posted on social media showed some private people allegedly accessing the government computer and other machinery at the Chandannagar SRO in the absence of the sub-registrar. They were waiting for their documents to be registered. The individuals accessed the gadgets when the sub-registrar went to a police station to record statement in connection with another case.The registration department examined the video and launched the inquiry to establish the circumstances of the incident and ascertain if the access to the government system had affected any registration-related work. Officials said the inquiry would determine if any action was warranted.The department’s action comes days after lawyers staged a protest outside the Chandannagar SRO on Aug 25, alleging irregularities and fraudulent registration of property documents. The protesting advocates alleged that property documents were being registered without adequate scrutiny of title and ownership records. They demanded stricter verification before registration and action against officials or private individuals if wrongdoing was established.The alleged access of private individuals to the govt computer system raised concerns over the security and confidentiality of registration-related data. Activists said there should be a thorough check in all offices. “How can an official leave office without handing over the charge to another official?” asked activist S Joshi.
