The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (Authority) is finalizing a policy that will allow the legal registration of properties transferred through multiple General Power of Attorney (GPA) transactions. At its board meeting held in January 2025, the Authority indicated that the new policy will soon be submitted to the Uttar Pradesh government for approval. If implemented, this measure would not only legitimize ownership for countless residents but also help the Authority and the state government recover substantial revenue lost due to the absence of a formal mechanism.
Currently, legal recognition is only extended to the first GPA holder, leaving subsequent buyers in a grey zone. Transfers directly from the original allottee incur a fee of 2.5% of the prevailing rate. If the property is transferred to a blood relative by a GPA holder, the fee increases to 3.75%. Transfers to third parties attract a 5% fee. However, there’s no existing provision to recognize or regularize properties passed on through more than one GPA holder, creating complications in ownership rights and legal disputes.
This new proposal is built upon a 2003 government order that attempted to regulate multiple GPA transfers. That earlier policy introduced a progressive fee system — 30% of the property value for first GPA holders, 60% for second, and 90% for third — though it excluded transfer fees and stamp duty. While approximately 600 properties were regularized under that initiative, repeated extensions and failed follow-ups in 2008, 2014, and 2017 left the issue unresolved.
The proposed framework now includes a provision for charging an additional 5% fee for every GPA transfer beyond the third. Officials say the revamped policy is designed to provide legal clarity, resolve ownership disputes, and secure the rights of genuine homeowners — many of whom have lived in these homes for years without formal ownership documents.