Kerala Land ConversionTharam Mattam (തരം മാറ്റം) — Form 5, 6 & 7

Form 5 for land conversion in Kerala is an application submitted to the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) to request the removal of land from the official Data Bank. The Data Bank is a government registry of all land classified as paddy land or wetland as of August 12, 2008, under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act. If your land was incorrectly included in the Data Bank — meaning it was not actually paddy or wetland at the time — you file Form 5 to correct this classification. Form 5 is not a conversion application itself; it is the mandatory first step before you can apply for actual land conversion through Form 6 or Form 7. The process typically takes 30–90 days.

Form 5 under the Kerala Paddy Land and Wetland Conservation Rules is a prescribed application format for seeking removal of land from the Data Bank maintained by the Revenue Department. The Data Bank was created under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, listing all paddy land and wetland in the state as of August 12, 2008. If your land has been erroneously classified as paddy land or wetland in this Data Bank, Form 5 is the legal mechanism to petition for its removal. The application is filed with the Revenue Divisional Officer, who orders a site verification by the Local Level Monitoring Committee (LLMC) before issuing a final order.

Form 6 for land conversion in Kerala is the official application for changing the land use classification from agricultural (paddy/wetland) to non-agricultural (residential, commercial, or industrial) for land up to 20.23 Ares (approximately 50 cents). Form 6 is submitted to the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) through the e-District portal or directly at the Taluk Office. Before filing Form 6, ensure your land is either not in the Data Bank, or has already been removed from the Data Bank through a successful Form 5 application. Required documents include ownership proof, tax receipts, survey records, and building plan if applicable. Since 2025, applicants with plots up to 25 cents that are not in the Data Bank can file a sworn affidavit in place of the mandatory field inspection, which has shortened processing times.

To check the status of a Form 6 land conversion (tharam mattam) application, open the Kerala Revenue eServices portal at revenue.kerala.gov.in, click "Application Status", select the service "Tharam Mattam", enter your application number (format 1/2022/1134, printed on your acknowledgement receipt) and press Get — no login is required. You can also ask the Akshaya centre that filed it, or the Revenue Divisional Officer's office, quoting the application number. J Group provides regular status updates and proactive follow-up on every application we manage.

Form 6 under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008 is the prescribed application format for requesting permission to convert paddy land or wetland up to 20.23 Ares (50 cents) for non-agricultural use. The form requires details of the property, purpose of conversion, ownership documents, and survey records. The application is processed by the Revenue Divisional Officer after site verification by the Village Officer and Agricultural Officer. If the land exceeds 20.23 Ares, you must use Form 7 instead.

Form 7 for land conversion in Kerala is the application for converting paddy land or wetland exceeding 20.23 Ares (above 50 cents) to non-agricultural use. Form 7 follows a similar process to Form 6 but has additional requirements: the applicant must submit a water conservation plan covering at least 10% of the total land area, obtain environmental clearances where applicable, and in some cases, receive approval from the State-Level Monitoring Committee. The authority for approval is the District Collector or the State Government depending on the extent of land. The process typically takes 90–180 days or longer for large-scale projects.

Form 5 is used to remove land from the official Data Bank when it is incorrectly classified as paddy or wetland — it is not a conversion application. Form 6 is the application for converting paddy land or wetland up to 20.23 Ares (50 cents) for non-agricultural use. Form 7 is used for the same purpose but for larger plots exceeding 20.23 Ares, and additionally requires a water conservation plan for 10% of the land. The typical order of application is: Form 5 first (if land is in the Data Bank), then Form 6 or Form 7 depending on land size.

The documents required for land conversion in Kerala include: original sale deed or ownership document, previous ownership chain documents (at least 30 years), property tax payment receipts (current), survey records and location sketch from the Village Office, thandaper extract, building plan approved by the local body (if applicable), identity proof of the applicant, and possession certificate. For Form 7 applications (land above 50 cents), a water conservation plan is also mandatory. NRIs must additionally provide a notarized Power of Attorney if they are not filing in person.

Yes, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) can apply for land conversion in Kerala. However, the process requires local representation for site inspections, document submissions, and liaison with Revenue Department officials — steps that cannot be done remotely. NRIs typically need to execute a Special Power of Attorney in favor of a trusted representative. J Group Consultancy specializes in NRI land conversion services, managing the entire process from Data Bank verification through Form 5/6/7 applications to final order receipt on behalf of non-resident clients.

Timelines vary by form type and complexity. Form 5 (Data Bank removal) typically takes 30–90 days. Form 6 (land up to 50 cents) takes 45–120 days. Form 7 (land above 50 cents) can take 90–180 days or longer for larger projects requiring State-Level Monitoring Committee review. Delays commonly occur due to pending site verification, incomplete documentation, or objections from neighboring property owners. Professional advisory can significantly reduce processing time by ensuring complete documentation from the first submission.

The Data Bank is an official registry maintained by the Kerala Revenue Department listing all land classified as paddy land or wetland as of August 12, 2008, under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act. If your land is in the Data Bank, you must first apply for removal via Form 5 before applying for conversion through Form 6 or Form 7. You can check your land's Data Bank status through the Revenue Department portal or by visiting your local Village Office.