How to download EC (Encumbrance Certificate) and CC (Certified Copy) online through Kaveri Online Services (Without paying a Bribe)!

This blog is to explain the process of obtaining an EC and CC online through the e-governance initiative of the Karnataka Government via Kaveri Online Services.

EC: An encumbrance certificate is basically a legal document that clarifies whether or not a particular property is free from legal or financial burdens. An encumbrance certificate would, for instance, show you if it has been pledged by the seller to a bank. This certificate would also show who the current owner is, and how many hands the property has changed since it first came into being. Once you receive this document, you would know you are dealing with a genuine seller and the property is not in any bind, legally or financially.

CC: A certified copy is a copy of a primary document that has on it an endorsement or certificate that it is a true copy of the primary document. It does not certify that the primary document is genuine, only that it is a true copy of the primary document. Example: Original Sale Deed signed during the registration of a Flat/Property between the buyer and seller/builder will be taken away by the bank if one has availed a loan to buy the same leaving you with a Photocopy which isn't accepted anywhere. A CC or Certified Copy is a copy of the same Sale Deed / Agreement with the Registrar but endorsed/acknowledged by the Sub Registrar with original Seal / Digital Signature if online. This is equivalent to the Original Copy signed and kept by the Bank!

These copies can be obtained in two easy ways!

Easiest way: Pay 1000/- rupees per document to a broker/agent (Many can be found in and around the Sub Registrar offices) and you get the document in A DAY!

Legal and the right way: Apply for these documents via online by registering yourself on Kaveri Online Services https://kaverionline.karnataka.gov.in/, search using your name, document number, registration date etc, choose the duration in case of EC, pay the required fees (40 in case of EC and 200 for CC).

The timeline for this as prescribed is 03 working days and you know how Govt Offices work, so this will not happen! even though these services are backed by SAKALA Act which promises on-time delivery or the Govt official responsible for the delay has to pay a certain amount per day of delay - Amazing but does not work, maybe a good lawyer can sue and fix this problem. Both Sakala and Kaveri Online Services run on age-old servers and browsers, so be patient. Use Internet Explorer (That's right)

I applied for these documents on 04/05/2021 and received them on 10th June 2021!! After the intervention of multiple higher-level officers, I shot an email marking the Project Directors of e-governance and Head of Sakala.

Time-Line: 

Date of Application: 04/05/2021

EC Application Accepted - 6/8/2021 1:11:26 PM

EC Report Prepared - 6/8/2021 1:13:28 PM

EC Comparer Signed & Uploaded - 6/10/2021 12:16:09 PM

EC Certificate Signed & Uploaded - 6/10/2021 12:23:23 PM

This is the process I followed and downloaded both my CC and EC without paying a Rupee as BRIBE!