Most plot disputes start with one skipped check. Before you pay any advance for land in Samastipur, spend a few days confirming that the person selling it is the person who actually owns it.
1. Ask for the seller's documents first
- The latest registered sale deed (registry) in the seller's name, and the earlier deeds that show how the land reached them.
- The mutation (dakhil-kharij) record showing the land is entered in the seller's name.
- A recent land rent receipt (lagan rasid) and the khata and khesra (plot) numbers.
- The seller's photo ID, matched against the name on the documents.
2. Cross-check the records yourself
Do not rely on photocopies handed to you. Compare the khata, khesra number and area on the deed with the official land records for the village or mohalla, and confirm the area on paper matches what is on the ground.
3. Check for encumbrances and disputes
Ask the Sub-Registrar office about any registered mortgage, loan or earlier sale on the land. Also ask neighbours and the local panchayat or ward office whether anyone else claims the plot, and check whether the land is in a family where all heirs have signed.
4. Match the land type to your plan
Confirm whether the plot is classed as residential or agricultural. If you plan to build, ask what approval is needed for the land type before you commit.
Red flags
- The seller will not show original documents, or pushes you to pay quickly.
- Names or areas differ between documents.
- The plot is held in a joint family name and not every owner is part of the sale.
- The price is far below nearby plots with no clear reason.
For the full list of papers, see our documents checklist. For what happens after you agree a price, read the registry guide and the mutation guide.