Advocates, stamp paper vendors shut shop for a week in Zirakpur

Gaurav Kanthwal

Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, August 3

After Covid-19 positive cases were reported from Rajpura tehsil, advocates, stamp paper vendors, notaries, typists and deed writers decided to shut their offices and shops at the Zirakpur sub-tehsil office for one week. The development will hamper the functioning of the Revenue Department here. Naib tehsildar Varinderpal Dhoot said, “They decided to shut offices on their own. The department’s office work will continue as usual.”

Since Zirakpur office is a sub-tehsil, most work here is related to Rajpura and other adjoining tehsils of Patiala. Public and employees visit these tehsils simultaneously to get the work done.

On July 13, as many as 14 Excise Department employees and a naib tehsildar with the Revenue Department tested positive for the virus.

Residents have to rely on the services of advocates, stamp paper vendors, notaries, typists and deed writers to prepare affidavits, rent agreements, certificates and property registrations papers.

“We have voluntarily decided to close shops and offices from August 3 to August 9 to prevent the spread of the virus. Most people working here come from Rajpura or are related in one way or the other. So, we chose to halt all services for a week,” said Parminder Singh, a notary at the sub-tehsil office. Besides causing great inconvenience to the public, the move is likely to stall property registration and reduce earnings of the Revenue Department.

The Revenue Department registers properties from Monday to Friday, but residents choose Monday, Wednesday and Friday as these days are considered auspicious.

Already, the Zirakpur sub-tehsil office had capped the number of property registrations to 45 in a day. Earlier, the limit was 75. The step was taken to regulate the influx of applicants at the office to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The sub-tehsil office resumed property registration among blood relations after it was halted during the lockdown.