Patta, chitta and A-register extracts for land in Tamil Nadu can be viewed and downloaded free on the Revenue Department’s e-Services portal, without visiting a taluk office. In most of Chennai, though, you will not be looking for a “patta” in the rural sense. City land is recorded under the Town Survey Land Register, or TSLR, which the same portal also serves.
Knowing which record applies to your property saves a lot of confused searching. Here is what each document is, where to find it, and how to apply for a patta transfer after you buy.
What each record tells you
- Patta: The record of rights issued by the taluk office under the tahsildar. It shows the owner’s name, the survey number and the extent of land. Banks and buyers treat it as the main revenue proof of who owns the land.
- Chitta: Maintained by the village administrative officer, it records the type and use of land, such as wet or dry. Online, it is now shown together with the patta.
- A-register (Adangal): A village-level register with survey-wise details such as classification and extent. It is mainly a rural record.
- TSLR: The urban equivalent of patta, used in towns and cities that have been through a town survey. Searches need the ward, block and town survey number.
- FMB or FMS sketch: The field measurement sketch showing the shape and boundaries of a survey number. The e-Services portal says these copies are free to download.
These descriptions follow the labels used on the e-Services portal itself.
How to view patta, chitta or TSLR online
- Go to eservices.tn.gov.in and choose the option to view the patta and FMB, chitta or TSLR extract.
- Select your district and taluk. For Chennai, this will be one of the city’s revenue taluks.
- Choose rural or urban. Most addresses inside Greater Chennai Corporation are urban, which takes you to the TSLR search. Some areas added to the city later may still have rural records.
- For urban land, fill in the town, ward, block, survey number and sub-division. For rural land, fill in the village, survey number and sub-division.
- Enter the captcha and the OTP sent to your mobile, then download the extract.
The portal warns users not to use the browser’s translate option, because owner names are stored in Tamil Unicode and machine translation can garble them. Read the Tamil name as it appears.
A-register and integrated records
A separate option on the portal lets you view the A-register extract by entering district, taluk, village, survey number and sub-division, as listed on the National Government Services Portal.
If a search returns a blank result, first check that you picked the right taluk and the right rural or urban option, and that the survey number and sub-division are typed exactly as on your documents. If the details are right and it is still blank, ask the taluk office whether the record for that survey number has been digitised.
Applying for patta transfer after you buy
Registering a sale deed does not by itself change the revenue record in every case. Patta transfer applications are filed on the Tamil Nilam citizen portal, which says any citizen can apply. Applications are of two kinds: those that need the survey number to be sub-divided and those that do not.
- You need the registered deed (sale, settlement, partition or gift), an identity proof and an address proof.
- The e-Services portal says applications can also be filed at any Common Service Centre in the state for Rs 60.
- Check your record on e-Services a few weeks after registration. If the owner’s name has not changed to yours, apply for transfer on Tamil Nilam.
- Keep the acknowledgement and application number, and use them when you follow up with the taluk office.
Checks before you buy
Match the name on the patta or TSLR with the seller’s title deed and the encumbrance certificate. Check that the survey number, sub-division and extent are the same across all three. If the land shows a government classification such as poramboke, or the extent differs, stop and get it examined. For any mismatch between revenue and registration records, consult a property lawyer before paying an advance.
Quick answers
Is patta needed for a flat in Chennai?
The patta or TSLR stands in the name of the land owners. For a flat, buyers usually check the land’s record before purchase and seek a share of the patta later through the association or builder.
Is viewing patta online free?
Yes. Viewing extracts and FMB sketches on e-Services is free. Patta transfer applications carry a small fee.
Can I use the online extract as proof?
The online extract can be verified on the portal. For court or bank use, ask the receiving office what form of copy it accepts.
Where do I go if the record is wrong?
Corrections are handled by the taluk office. Carry the deed and the extract showing the error.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
