Land Records
What is Chitta?
Tamil Nadu's classification record. Now merged with the Patta — and the classification it records is the thing that decides whether you can build.
The short answer
Chitta was Tamil Nadu's record of a land's classification and revenue details — most importantly, whether it is nanjai (wet, irrigated) or punjai (dry).
It has been merged with the Patta into a single Patta Chitta record, available online. And the classification it carries is the thing that determines whether you can lawfully build on the land.
What Chitta was, and is
Historically, Tamil Nadu maintained two related records:
- Patta — who holds the land
- Chitta — what the land is: its classification, its extent, the revenue payable
They were merged. What you obtain today is a combined Patta Chitta, available through the state's e-services portal.
Nanjai and Punjai — the classification that decides everything
Nanjai — wet land. Irrigated. Typically paddy.
Punjai — dry land. Rain-fed.
Buyers hear 'punjai — dry land' and assume that means it is not agricultural. It is.
Both classifications are agricultural. Both require conversion to non-agricultural use before a house can lawfully be built.
Buying nanjai or punjai land for a home without conversion is one of the most expensive and most common mistakes in Tamil Nadu. The transfer may be void. No building approval will follow. And the money is gone.
What the merged Patta Chitta gives you
| Field | What to check |
|---|---|
| Patta number | The holder's account number |
| Owner's name | Does it match the seller, exactly? |
| Survey number & subdivision | Does it match the sale deed and the encumbrance certificate? |
| Extent | Does it match what is being sold? |
| Classification (nanjai / punjai) | Agricultural. Has it been converted? Where is the order? |
| District / Taluk / Village | Confirms location |
| Tax | Land revenue payable |
How to check it
- Go to the Tamil Nadu e-services land records portal. Search for it by name — do not follow a seller's link.
- Select district, taluk, village.
- Search by patta number or survey number.
- Check the name, the extent, and the classification.
- Cross-check the survey number against the sale deed and the encumbrance certificate. They must agree.
- If it is nanjai or punjai: ask for the land use conversion order. No order, no building.
A paper Patta Chitta handed to you by a seller proves nothing.
The state portal is free, public, and takes two minutes. There is no reason not to check, and every reason to.
If you're buying a flat: you will not have an individual Patta Chitta. Check the record for the project land in the promoter's name, check the conversion order, and check your undivided share (UDS) in the sale deed — which in Tamil Nadu is often a separate document from the construction agreement.
Frequently asked questions
What is chitta in Tamil Nadu?
A revenue record showing a land's classification, extent and revenue details — most importantly whether it is nanjai (wet, irrigated) or punjai (dry). It has been merged with the Patta into a single Patta Chitta record, available online.
What is the difference between patta and chitta?
The Patta records who HOLDS the land. The Chitta records what the land IS — its classification, extent and revenue. Tamil Nadu merged them; what you obtain today is a combined Patta Chitta.
What do nanjai and punjai mean?
Nanjai is wet, irrigated land. Punjai is dry land. Buyers often hear 'punjai — dry land' and assume it isn't agricultural. It is. BOTH are agricultural classifications, and both require conversion to non-agricultural use before a house can lawfully be built.
Can I build on punjai land?
Not without converting it. Punjai is dry land, but it is still agricultural. Buying nanjai or punjai land for a home without conversion is one of the most common and most expensive mistakes in Tamil Nadu — the transfer may be void, and no building approval will follow.
How do I check Patta Chitta online?
Through the Tamil Nadu e-services land records portal. Select district, taluk and village, then search by patta number or survey number. Verify online rather than relying on a paper document from the seller — forged pattas are a real problem in Tamil Nadu.