Last verified 28 Oct 2026 against rcms.punjab.gov.in (Non-Encumbrance Certificate Issuance System, NECIS), the Punjab Department of Revenue "Issuance of Non-Encumbrance Certificate" form on punjab.gov.in, jamabandi.punjab.gov.in, jamabandi.nic.in (Haryana WEB-HALRIS, including its "Procedure to obtain Encumbrance Certificate"), rera.punjab.gov.in and haryanarera.gov.in.
If you are buying property in Punjab, Haryana or Chandigarh, an Encumbrance Certificate (EC) is a basic due diligence step. Punjab calls it a Non-Encumbrance Certificate. Both states now take applications online, but through different portals and different offices. Chandigarh, a Union Territory, runs its own Sub-Registrar office.
In short: In Punjab, apply on the Non-Encumbrance Certificate Issuance System (NECIS) at rcms.punjab.gov.in. In Haryana, apply on jamabandi.nic.in → Property Registration → Encumbrance Certificate → Apply New. Neither portal publishes a flat fee table, so check the amount shown on the form before you pay.
What is an Encumbrance Certificate?
An Encumbrance Certificate (EC) is an official certificate that the property is free from charges, or that lists the charges on it, for a period you choose. "Encumbrance" means a charge, lien or liability attached to a property, such as a mortgage.
What you should look for in an EC, or check next to it:
- Sale deeds (ownership transfers)
- Mortgage deeds (property pledged to banks or NBFCs)
- Release or redemption (mortgages cleared)
- Gift and partition deeds
- Court orders and attachments
- Registered powers of attorney
For a deeper understanding of how ECs work across India, read our complete guide to Encumbrance Certificates.
Why Encumbrance Certificate Matters in Punjab & Haryana
Punjab and Haryana have active property markets in cities such as Mohali, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Gurugram, Faridabad and Panchkula. Rural and peri-urban land often has long chains of inheritance, partition and co-ownership.
1. Title Verification
Both states keep revenue records in the Jamabandi. The Jamabandi shows the current owners and cultivators. It does not show the full chain of past transactions. The EC, read with the registered deeds, helps you see how the property moved from owner to owner.
2. Home Loans
Banks and housing finance companies usually ask for an EC before they sanction a home loan. The period they ask for varies by lender, so ask your bank before you apply. Learn more in our guide on property due diligence for home loans.
3. Agricultural Land Conversion
Much of the land around Punjab and Haryana cities was agricultural. An EC does not prove that a change of land use (CLU) was approved. Check the CLU separately with the Town and Country Planning authority.
4. Detecting Hidden Mortgages
In resale deals, sellers may not disclose existing loans. In Punjab, a bank loan can also appear as a rapat entry in the roznamcha on jamabandi.punjab.gov.in. Read the EC and the revenue record together. See our guide on how to check property mortgages and liens.
5. Court Cases and Legal Attachments
An EC may not show every court case. Haryana's jamabandi.nic.in has View Stay Orders, Revenue Court Status and Civil Court Status menus. Punjab's RCMS portal has a Property under Litigation search. Check these and eCourts too. See our guide to properties with pending litigation.
What the certificate is called in each state
| State | Name used by the portal | Where you apply (as of 28 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab | Non-Encumbrance Certificate | NECIS on rcms.punjab.gov.in. The form also exists as a Sewa Kendra service |
| Haryana | Encumbrance Certificate | jamabandi.nic.in → Property Registration → Encumbrance Certificate |
| Chandigarh | Encumbrance Certificate | Sub-Registrar office, UT Chandigarh |
Some states, such as Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, issue ECs in "Form 15" and "Form 16". We found no such form numbers on the Punjab or Haryana portals, so do not expect them there. For how those forms work in other states, see our guide on Form 15 vs Form 16 Encumbrance Certificates.
How to Apply for Encumbrance Certificate Online in Punjab
Punjab issues the Non-Encumbrance Certificate through the Revenue Department, not through the land records portal. The online system is NECIS (Non-Encumbrance Certificate Issuance System) on the Revenue Courts Management System.
Step 1: Open NECIS
Go to https://rcms.punjab.gov.in/ and find Non-Encumbrance Certificate Issuance System (NECIS). The page has How to Apply and Application Receipt links.
Step 2: Enter the owner's details
The form asks for the land owner's name, relation, father's name and grandfather's name, gender, and address. It also asks whether the applicant lives in Punjab.
Step 3: Choose the period
Enter Non Encumbrance From Date and Non Encumbrance To Date. The "How to Apply" page says the fee is calculated on the total number of years.
Step 4: Enter the property details
Select the property type (agriculture, commercial, industrial, residential or other), then the district, tehsil and village. Enter the Jamabandi year, and the khewat, khatouni and khasra numbers, and the area. Take these numbers from the fard on jamabandi.punjab.gov.in.
Note: The NECIS page says applications are "processed manually in case of property other than agriculture". Expect a longer wait for a house, flat or shop.
Step 5: Upload ID, sign the declaration, verify OTP
Upload an ID proof of the owner (voter ID, driving licence, passport or PAN). Accept the self-declaration that the land is free of encumbrances. Verify the OTP sent to the mobile number.
Step 6: Check the fee, then submit
The form shows the fee before you submit. Punjab does not publish a flat fee table on the portal, so check the amount on the form. The "How to Apply" page says the Tehsildar or Naib-Tehsildar records the application in RCMS.
Offline route in Punjab
The Department of Revenue form "Issuance of Non-Encumbrance Certificate" (on punjab.gov.in, under Download Application Forms) is addressed to the Sub-Registrar. It asks for a report from the patwari and nambardar or sarpanch, a self-declaration, residence proof, Aadhaar and income proof. It offers delivery at a Sewa Kendra or by post.
How to Apply for Encumbrance Certificate Online in Haryana
Haryana runs the EC service on its land records portal, jamabandi.nic.in (WEB-HALRIS), managed by the Revenue Department, Haryana.
Step 1: Open jamabandi.nic.in
Go to https://jamabandi.nic.in/ and open Property Registration → Encumbrance Certificate. The menu has Procedure to obtain Encumbrance Certificate, Apply New and View Status.
Step 2: Log in with your mobile number
Click Apply New, enter your mobile number and the OTP.
Step 3: Enter user details
Fill in your details as the form asks.
Step 4: Add the property details and upload the Nakal
The official procedure says to "Add property details; upload Nakal". The Nakal is the copy of the jamabandi. You can get one under Jamabandi → Get Verifiable copy of Nakal on the same portal.
Step 5: Download after approval
The procedure says that "After the approval of application, Encumbrance Certificate can be downloaded". Track it under View Status.
Fee: jamabandi.nic.in does not publish an EC fee on the procedure page. Check the amount during the application.
How to Get Encumbrance Certificate in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, as a Union Territory, has its own Sub-Registrar office. We could not find an official online EC application page for Chandigarh. Ask the Sub-Registrar, UT Chandigarh, for the current procedure and fee before you apply.
Tip: Mohali (Punjab) and Panchkula (Haryana) border Chandigarh. Confirm which state or UT the property falls in before you apply.
Documents Required to Get EC in Punjab & Haryana
Keep these ready:
- Owner details (name, father's name and, for Punjab, grandfather's name)
- District, tehsil and village
- Jamabandi year, khewat, khatouni and khasra numbers (from the fard or Nakal)
- Area of the land
- ID proof of the owner (Punjab NECIS)
- Copy of the Nakal (Haryana)
- Mobile number for OTP
Tip: In Punjab and Haryana, the Jamabandi is the main revenue record. Haryana's portal says the Jamabandi contains entries on ownership and cultivation and is revised every five years. See our guide on revenue records in India.
Encumbrance Certificate Fees in Punjab & Haryana (2026)
| State | Fee (as of 28 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Punjab | Calculated on the number of years. NECIS shows the amount on the form. No flat fee table is published on the portal |
| Haryana | Not published on the jamabandi.nic.in procedure page. Shown during the application |
| Chandigarh | Ask the Sub-Registrar, UT Chandigarh |
Note: Fees change. Always check the amount on the official portal before you pay.
How to Read Your Punjab/Haryana Encumbrance Certificate
Once you download your EC, check:
1. Header Information
- Property details: village, khewat, khatouni and khasra numbers, and the area. They must match the property you are buying.
- Period: the from and to dates.
- Issue date and issuing office.
2. Entries
If the certificate lists any charge, note the type (for example a mortgage), the date and the parties.
3. What to Check
- Continuous ownership chain: Each buyer should become the seller in the next transaction. Gaps can mean missing documents or disputes.
- Outstanding mortgages: A mortgage without a matching release means the loan may still be active.
- Court attachments: Any court order or attachment means the property is under legal dispute.
- Name variations: Check that names match across documents. Variations such as "Ram Kumar" and "R. Kumar" can mean different people or a title gap.
For a detailed guide, see our post on how to read an Encumbrance Certificate.
Common Issues with Punjab & Haryana Encumbrance Certificates
1. Portal Downtime
Haryana's portal has a Check Webhalris Server Status link. If a portal is slow, try again later.
2. Incorrect Property Identification
Wrong khewat or khasra numbers give a certificate for the wrong land. Copy the numbers from a current fard or Nakal.
3. Jamabandi vs EC Mismatch
The Jamabandi shows the current revenue record. Sometimes a registered sale is not yet reflected because the mutation is pending. Always cross-check both.
4. Agricultural Land Conversions Not Reflected
An EC does not show a change of land use. Check the CLU with the Town and Country Planning authority.
5. Unregistered Documents Not Shown
Unregistered agreements, unregistered powers of attorney and oral family arrangements do not appear. Insist on registered documents.
6. Pending Mutations
If a sale is recent but the mutation is pending, the Jamabandi still shows the old owner. Check the mutation: in Punjab under View Mutation on jamabandi.punjab.gov.in, and in Haryana under Mutation → Check Mutation Status on jamabandi.nic.in. See our property mutation guide.
How LegiScore Helps with Punjab & Haryana Property Verification
An EC is one step in property due diligence. Reading it with the Jamabandi, the registered deeds, mutations and court records takes time and legal judgment.
LegiScore offers title search and legal opinion reports for Punjab and Haryana property at legiscore.in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Jamabandi and Encumbrance Certificate in Punjab?
Jamabandi is the revenue record of rights for the village. It shows owners, cultivators, shares and area. It is maintained by the revenue department through the patwari.
Non-Encumbrance Certificate is a separate certificate, applied for on NECIS, that covers a period you choose.
Key difference: The Jamabandi shows the current revenue entries. The certificate covers charges over a period. You need both for due diligence. Learn more in our guide on revenue records in India.
How many years of EC is required for property purchase in Punjab and Haryana?
There is no single rule on the portals. Banks and lawyers often ask for a long period, such as 13 or 30 years. Ask your lender or lawyer what they need before you apply. See our guide on 13-year vs 30-year title verification.
Can I get Encumbrance Certificate for agricultural land in Punjab/Haryana?
Yes. In Punjab, choose "Agriculture" as the property type on NECIS and enter the khewat, khatouni and khasra numbers. In Haryana, apply on jamabandi.nic.in with the Nakal.
For agricultural land, also check:
- Change of land use (CLU) if the land is used for housing or business
- RERA registration if the land is part of a project
- Pending court cases about the land
Learn more in our guide on land conversion.
What if the Encumbrance Certificate shows a mortgage but no release?
The loan may still be active, so the property is encumbered.
What to do:
- Ask the seller for the bank's loan closure or no-dues letter
- Contact the bank to confirm the loan status
- Agree in writing that the loan is cleared from the sale price
- Get the release recorded before the sale is completed
Red flag: A seller who says the loan is paid but cannot show a closure letter. See our guide on checking property mortgages.
How do I verify if a Punjab/Haryana Encumbrance Certificate is genuine?
Get the certificate yourself from the official portal, or from the issuing office, rather than accepting a copy from the seller. Track a Punjab application under Application Receipt on NECIS, and a Haryana application under View Status on jamabandi.nic.in. If you are unsure, confirm with the issuing office.
What is the role of EC in RERA projects in Punjab and Haryana?
For a unit in a registered project, check the EC for the project land. It can show whether the developer's land is mortgaged.
Also check the project's registration and complaints on Punjab RERA (https://rera.punjab.gov.in/) or Haryana RERA (https://haryanarera.gov.in/). Learn more in our guide on RERA Act explained.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and portal steps can change, so confirm on the official portal before you pay.
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