What is an RTC (Pahani) and how to read it

The RTC is the single most important agricultural land record in Karnataka. Here is what every column means and why it matters before you buy.

Land Records · 6 min read · By Sanad Team

What is an RTC?

RTC stands for Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops — popularly called Pahani. It is issued from the Karnataka Bhoomi system and is the primary ownership document for agricultural land.

What an RTC tells you

• Owner name(s) and the extent of land each holds
• Survey number, hissa and total area (in acres and guntas)
• Land type — dry, wet or garden
• Soil and crop details for recent seasons
• Khata number and revenue assessment
• Encumbrances such as loans or court orders noted by the village accountant

How to read it

1. Confirm the owner name matches the seller's ID exactly.
2. Check the extent — it must match the sale agreement.
3. Look at the mutation (MR) number column to trace how ownership changed hands.
4. Watch for any remarks about disputes, minor owners or government claims.

Why it matters

A clean RTC is the foundation of a safe land purchase. Always pull the latest RTC plus the historical RTC to see the full ownership chain.

Order a certified RTC through Sanad and an agent collects it directly from the Village Accountant.

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