If a transfer is executed without prior permission (NOC) from the Collector, it is treated as an unauthorized transfer. The Collector's office typically levies a regularization penalty ranging from 1% to 5% of the Ready Reckoner Rate, alongside standard delayed payment interest which is generally around 12% simple interest per annum from the date the transfer occurred (2014) to the actual date of payment

2) Under the Maharashtra Land Revenue rules for Class II/leasehold properties, any change in ownership or occupant title requires the Collector’s prior NOC and payment of premium, regardless of whether money changed hands. The state government considers a registered Gift Deed a formal transfer of property title

3) in the case of State of Maharashtra v. Mr. Aspi Chinoy) specifically involving Nariman Point/Cuffe Parade plots, the court clarified that if the land was originally leased out to a private developer at full market rate (not to a cooperative society at a concessional rate), the Collector cannot demand an NOC or premium for subsequent individual flat transfers.

If your building falls under this specific developer-lease criteria, no premium or penalty may be legally due.

The liability to pay Collector's premium depends on the nature of the land, the original grant/lease conditions, the Occupancy Class, and the terms of the conveyance or allotment. It is not automatically payable merely because a property has been sold or gifted. Therefore, the first step is to examine the property documents, property card, conveyance deed, and the Collector's permission clauses, if any.

1. How much Collector's premium is payable now? Is there any interest or penalty?

If the property is held on leasehold land, Occupancy Class-II land, or is otherwise subject to restrictions on transfer, Collector's permission and payment of premium may be required. The premium is generally calculated as a percentage of the Ready Reckoner/market value prevailing on the date the transfer is regularised or permission is granted, in accordance with the applicable Government Resolution and Revenue Department policy. The percentage is not uniform and varies depending on the category of land and the applicable policy.

If the premium ought to have been paid in 2002 or at the time of the 2014 gift but was not, the authorities may also levy interest, penalty, or other charges, depending on the applicable Government Resolution and the facts of the case. The exact amount cannot be determined without examining the title documents and the applicable policy.

2. Is Collector's premium payable on a gift to the daughter?

A gift to a daughter through a registered Gift Deed does not automatically exempt the transaction from Collector's premium. If the property is subject to transfer restrictions requiring prior permission of the Collector, the premium requirement may still apply despite the transfer being between close family members. However, certain Government Resolutions provide concessions or exemptions in specific cases. The applicability of any exemption depends on the nature of the land and the prevailing Government policy.

Before purchasing the property, you should insist that the seller:

• Produces the Collector's order or a No Dues/No Objection Certificate, if applicable.
• Clears any outstanding premium, interest, or penalty.
• Obtains all necessary permissions required for transfer.

A comprehensive title search and due diligence should be undertaken before execution of the Agreement for Sale. If the seller has failed to pay the Collector's premium for over two decades, the buyer should not assume this liability without first ascertaining the exact legal and financial implications from the Collector's office. It is prudent to make payment of the premium and procurement of all requisite permissions a condition precedent in the agreement, so that the responsibility remains with the seller before completion of the transaction.

Dear Sir/Madam,

The exact premium cannot be calculated without examining the original Government lease, property area/use and applicable Ready Reckoner rate. Any interest or penalty will depend upon the Collector’s assessment for the delayed transfers.

A registered gift deed to a daughter may also attract transfer premium if the lease conditions require Collector’s permission or premium for every transfer.

Before purchasing, obtain the Collector’s NOC/dues certificate and require the seller to clear all outstanding premium and penalties.

Advocate Saurabh Agrawal

Transfer can be done but for good title the premium and all statutory dues needs to be paid 

Transferring Class-II (leasehold/government-granted) property in Mumbai's Island City (including Nariman Point) involves specific rules regarding the Collector's Premium (also known as transfer fees or unearned increase) under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966.

While co-operative housing societies cannot charge transfer fees for gifts between immediate family members, Collector land (Class-II occupant / leasehold) rules are entirely different.Any change in occupancy rights whether through sale, lease, exchange, or a registered gift deed (even to a daughter/blood relative) requires prior permission (NOC) from the City Collector and payment of the prescribed transfer charges/premium. Since the property was transferred without prior approval from the Collector (in 2002 and again in 2014), it is classified as an unauthorized/unapproved transfer in government revenue records.

For commercial offices in the Island City of Mumbai, the Collector charges transfer fees based on either a per-square-foot rate (historically ~₹1,500/sq. ft. for commercial premises depending on the notification) or as a percentage (3% to 5%) of the prevailing Ready Reckoner Rate (RRR) of the property. The premium is calculated based on the current Ready Reckoner Rate at the time of regularisation, rather than rates from 2002 or 2014.

To regularise the title today, the Collectorate typically imposes a regularisation penalty, which can range from double the standard transfer charges up to a prescribed percentage of unearned increase as per the prevailing Maharashtra Revenue Department circulars.Delayed government dues attract penal interest, typically ranging between 12% and 18% per annum, calculated from the date of the transfer (or date of notice) until the date of actual payment.

You may ask the seller to produce the Property Card (7/12 extract equivalent for Mumbai City) to check whose name is officially mutated in government records. The seller (and daughter) must apply to the City Collectorate, Mumbai for post-facto approval/regularisation of both the 2002 purchase and the 2014 gift deed. Ensure that all Collector premiums, penalties, and interest are either paid in full by the seller prior to registration or deducted directly from the sale consideration at closing.

• 
  Calculation Baseline: In Nariman Point, specific landmark properties (like the NCPA apartments) have stringent, historical lease conditions requiring up to a 50% split of the sale proceeds/profits with the Collector and the society. For general cases, the exact conversion premium to clear titles to "freehold" land is pinned at 10% of the current Ready Reckoner (RR) rate (reduced from 15% via recent state cabinet revisions). 
• Interest & Penalties: If a property was transferred or gifted in the past (e.g., 2014) without paying the due premium, it is legally deemed an unauthorised transfer. The Collector's office levies compounding interest/penalties on the delayed payment, which can range between 12% to 18% per annum from the date of the execution of the transfer (2014) until the date of actual payment. In extreme cases of willful default, the Collector holds the right to forfeit the lease.

• 
  The Rule: The state requires the Collector’s prior No Objection Certificate (NOC) and payment of a transfer premium whenever the title changes hands, regardless of whether money was exchanged. 
• 
  Legal Precedent: This has been a highly contested topic. In landmark cases like Aspi Chinoy vs. State of Maharashtra, the Bombay High Court ruled that the government cannot demand a transfer premium for transferring a flat's shares if no land transfer is explicitly initiated. However, because the state government challenged these findings, the Collector's office continues to aggressively demand and collect the premium on gift deeds before granting clear title mutations or processing regular sale permissions. 

Dear Client, The exact amount of the collector’s transfer premium depends primarily on the current ready reckoner value of the Nariman Point property and its precise land classification Generally the transfer premium for commercial or residential lands in prime Mumbai locations is calculated as a fixed percentage often ranging between a specific fraction of the property’s market value or a multiple of the annual occupancy fee alongside unearned income sharing guidelines enforced by the Mumbai collector’s office because the payment has been delayed since the 2014 gift transaction the collectors office will invariably levy statutory int late fees and compounding penalties for unauthorized and unregularized transfer spanning over a decade.

A collectors transfer premium or prior formal sanction is legally applicable when transferring property via a registered gift deed even if the transfer is made to a close family member like a daughter while a gift deed within immediate family enjoys massive concessions under the Maharashtra Stamp Act revenue and leasehold lands governed by the collector treat any change in ownership whether the sale gift or settlement as a formal transfer of title Gifting the property does not bypass government lease convenience or land revenue rules meaning the unearned income fee or transfer premium must be settled to clear the title.

Before finalizing the purchase or paying any amount you or the seller must obtain an official demand letter directly from the Mumbai Collectors Office to ascertain the exact dues penalty charges and interest accrued since unpaid collector dues run with the land and can block clear title or future bank financing you should legally ensure that the seller clears all pending interest and regulation charges out of the sale proceeds. I hope this answer helps, if you have any further query kindly do not hesitate to contact us. Thankyou

Sir/Madam,

It is suggested that in the instant case Collector's Premium be applicable because, for Collector leasehold properties in Mumbai, transfer of rights to an unrelated third-party purchaser generally requires many things such as Permission/NOC from the Collector, Collector's Premium, etc. The exact liability may depends on various factors such as The original lease deed, Subsequent government resolutions applicable to that lease category,
Whether the property is residential or commercial, The current Ready Reckoner value. It is further suggested that the premium was payable when the father gifted the property to his daughter in 2014. But, you may check from the concerend office for final confirmation. Transfers between close family members (including daughter) are often treated differently from open-market transfers. However, one cannot assume exemption merely because it was a gift. Also chceh that "was the 2014 transfer mutated in government records and approved by the Collector?" 

If yes, Also check whether transfer permission was obtained, Whether any premium was demanded and paid, Whether any exemption order was granted.

It is also suggested that if the dauther is selling the property today, she can not say that premium was already paid in 2014. Even if the gift transfer was regularized in 2014, a subsequent sale to an outsider is usually treated as a fresh transfer event under lease conditions and may again attract transfer premium. You are required to check whether the Collector has already raised a demand and payment is delayed beyond the prescribed period. If yes, the interest may be levied and Penalty/additional charges may be imposed. If not paid, Transfer approval, mutation, or registration-related permissions may be withheld until payment is cleared. The rate of premium depends on the specific demand notice or applicable Government Resolution.

Finally, for a Nariman Point Collector leasehold property being sold by the daughter to an unrelated purchaser, you should proceed on the assumption that Collector's Premium will likely be payable on the proposed sale, unless a specific exemption under the lease terms or government policy applies.

Because Nariman Point properties are extremely high-value and transfer premiums can be substantial, I would strongly recommend obtaining the lease deed and the Collector's records before finalizing commercial terms with the purchaser.