Kewala Copy Bihar: Get a Certified Sale Deed Copy (Patna 2026)

Short answer: Anyone can get a certified copy of a kewala (sale deed, also called bainama) in Bihar by paying the fee. For a deed registered on or after 16 December 2024, apply under "Certified Copy" on enibandhan.bihar.gov.in. Deeds registered up to 15 December 2024 can be searched on bhumijankari.bihar.gov.in by name, khata-khesra or deed number. For a very old deed still held on paper, apply at the registration office where it was registered.

In Patna this comes up in three situations: an old family kewala is lost or falling apart, the deed number is needed for dakhil-kharij (mutation), or a buyer wants to match the seller's deed against the government record before paying. This guide covers all three.

What is a kewala, and why can anyone get a copy?

A kewala is the registered document for the sale of land or a house: the sale deed, bainama or vikray patra. After registration the buyer gets a copy, and the record stays permanently with the registration office (Register Book No. 1).

If you registered recently: under Rule 9(8) of the Bihar Registration Rules 2026, a printed copy is handed over as soon as the deed is registered, and/or a link to the PDF of the registered deed is sent to the parties' registered mobile number or e-mail. Don't delete that message; download the PDF and keep it safe.

Under Section 57 of the Registration Act, 1908, Book No. 1 and its index are open to inspection by any person who pays the fee, and certified copies are given to any applicant. So a buyer does not need the seller's permission to pull the seller's deed. (Wills sit in a different book and have stricter rules.) A copy signed and sealed by the registering officer can be used to prove what the original deed says.

Which year is your deed from? That decides where to go

The split follows Bhumijankari's own notice: its data covers registered documents up to 15 December 2024, and documents registered after 16 December 2024 are available through e-Nibandhan's Certified Copy module.

How to search for a kewala online (Bhumijankari, up to 15 December 2024)

bhumijankari.bihar.gov.in, the Registration Department's older portal, offers three searches without login:

1. Advance Search: pick the period: "Online Registration (2016 To Till Date)", "Post Computerisation (2006 To 2015)" or "Pre Computerisation (Before 2005)". Then choose the registration office and dates, and fill in whatever you know: circle, mauza, khata number, plot (khesra) number, deed number, party name, father's/husband's name, area.
2. Search By Party Name: type the seller's (Executant) or buyer's (Claimant) name in English and pick the years. Start from the beginning of the name, spelt as in the deed. Results show the registration office, circle, mauza, khata, khesra and party name.
3. Search By Serial No.: if you know the deed number, pick the registration office and year.

The same portal has "View Web Copy": enter the registration office, year and deed number to see a scanned copy of the deed, if one is available. When we checked on 20 October 2026, one deed returned "Pdf File Not Available", so not every deed has a web copy. A web copy is for viewing only; for any official or legal use, get a certified copy.

Tip: the portal is slow and often times out. If you get "No Records Found", try the other period (Pre/Post Computerisation) or another spelling of the name.

How to get a certified copy of a kewala from e-Nibandhan

Under Rules 46 and 47 of the Bihar Registration Rules 2026, certified copies of records registered on the computer system, or already digitised, are issued online through the department's software. This is the e-Certified Copy, digitally signed by the officer. Steps:

1. Open enibandhan.bihar.gov.in. The home page has a "Certified Copy" option. To apply you need a citizen account on the portal and must log in.
2. Fill in the details from the rules' Form-I: document (deed) number, date and year of registration, the registration office, names of the seller (Executant) and buyer (Claimant), and who you are (seller, buyer or another person).
3. Pay the fee online (see below).
4. The digitally signed copy is issued online. Portal helpdesk: 14544 / 0612-3522300 (as listed on the portal).

Rule 47(3) says a copy issued online and one issued by hand from the office are treated as equal. If you still want a copy from the physical office record after getting the online one, that is also available for a fee where the record exists.

How to get an old kewala (before 2006) from the registry office

Under Rule 47(2), certified copies of old deeds whose records are still kept on paper in the record room are issued by hand at the registration office, signed and sealed by the registering officer.

1. Find out which registration office registered the deed. It is on the seal and the registration endorsement page of the deed.
2. File the search-and-copy application (Form-I) at that office with the deed number, year, office and the names of seller and buyer.
3. Pay the searching and copying fees and keep the receipt. Ask the office when the copy will be ready.

Don't know the deed number? Go with the approximate year and the names of the seller and buyer; the search fee is charged per name and per year (see below). If you have an old rent receipt or jamabandi at home, take the khata-khesra from it.

Bhumijankari lists these registration offices in Patna district (with codes): Patna (2800), Patna City (2801), Danapur (2802), Barh (2803), Bikram (2804), Masaurhi (2805), Phulwarisharif (2806), Bihta (2808), Fatuha (2809), Sampatchak (2810).

What does a certified copy of a sale deed cost in Bihar?

Rule 46 says search and copy fees are paid as per the department's Table of Fees, and the Form-I receipt shows a searching fee and a copying fee separately. The department's published fee chart (December 2020, still its latest published chart on 20 October 2026) lists:

For an online application the total fee is shown on the portal when you apply; treat that as final.

What is a kewala copy used for?

• Original deed lost or damaged: a certified copy proves what the original said. For a bank loan or a court matter, ask that bank or your lawyer what else they need.
• Dakhil-kharij (mutation): the application asks for the deed number and date, and the deed has to be uploaded. See our dakhil-kharij online guide.
• Before buying a plot: take a photocopy of the seller's deed, pull the certified copy of the same deed yourself, and compare line by line: names, khata, khesra, area and boundaries. Any mismatch, stop the deal.
• To complete the chain of title: pull the deed of every sale from the raiyat in the khatiyan to today's seller. Khatiyan: how to get a Bihar khatiyan.

Common mistakes when getting a kewala copy

What should you do? (Our advice)

• Get certified copies of all family deeds now, especially old ones that are tearing. Tracing old records takes longest exactly when you need them in a hurry.
• Before buying a plot, pull the certified copy of the seller's deed yourself; don't rely on a "copy" handed over by the seller or a broker.
• Also get an Encumbrance Certificate (EC) to see whether an earlier sale or mortgage of the same land is on record.
• The full checklist: plot buying guide for Patna and how to avoid land fraud in Patna.
• Living outside Bihar and can't visit offices? We can pull the deed copies and check the whole chain for you.

Kewala copy: frequently asked questions

1. How to get a kewala (sale deed) copy online in Bihar?

   For a deed registered after 16 December 2024, log in at enibandhan.bihar.gov.in and apply under "Certified Copy"; the copy comes digitally signed. Deeds up to 15 December 2024 can be searched on bhumijankari.bihar.gov.in by name, khata-khesra or deed number.

2. How to get a copy of an old sale deed in Patna?

   Old deeds still held on paper are copied by the registration office where they were registered. File Form-I with the deed number, year and party names, and pay the searching and copying fees.

3. What details do I need for a certified copy of a sale deed?

   The deed number, year and date of registration, the registration office, and the names of the seller and buyer. If you don't know the deed number, search Bhumijankari first by name or khata-khesra.

4. Can I get a copy of someone else's sale deed?

   Yes. Under Section 57 of the Registration Act, copies of documents in Book No. 1, which includes sale deeds, are given to any applicant who pays the fee. That is how a buyer can check the seller's deed independently.

5. What is the fee for a certified copy of a sale deed in Bihar?

   The department's fee chart (December 2020) lists ₹40 for the first year and ₹20 for each further year to search the index per name, and ₹3 per 100 words for making a copy. For online applications the portal shows the total fee; treat that as final.

6. Is an online certified copy valid?

   Yes. Under Rule 47(3) of the Bihar Registration Rules 2026, a digitally signed online copy and a copy issued by hand from the office are treated as equal.

7. What if my kewala doesn't show on Bhumijankari?

   Check whether it was registered after 16 December 2024; if so it is on e-Nibandhan. Search the name in English with the deed's spelling and try the other period. If it still doesn't show, apply at the registration office where the deed was registered.

This article was written on 20 October 2026 after checking the Bihar Registration Rules 2026 (Bihar Gazette No. 759), the Registration Act 1908, the Registration Department's fee chart, and the e-Nibandhan and Bhumijankari portals. Portal menus and fees can change; go by what the portal or office shows when you apply. This is general information, not legal advice. Before a big deal, have your papers checked by someone who knows.