High Court · 2025

W.P. No.39677 of 2024IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED : 13.06.2025CORAMTHE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ W.P. No.39677 of 2024T.Vasanthi ... Petitioner(s)Vs.1. The Inspector General of Registration, No.100, Santhome High Road, Santhome, Chennai 600 028. 2. The Sub Registrar-II, Sub Registrar Office, Kanchipuram High Road, Natham, Chengalpattu 603 002. ... Respondent(s)PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 2nd respondent register the sale deed dated 11.11.2024 of the petitioner in respect of the subject property pending on the file of 2nd respondent and in light of the petitioner;s representation dated 03.12.2024. For Petitioner(s) : Mr.Vaibhav R.Venkatesh for Anirudh A SriramFor Respondent(s) : Mrs.A.Bakkiyalakshmi Government Advocate1/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. No.39677 of 2024ORDERThe present writ petition is filed praying for a writ of mandamus, directing the 2nd respondent to register the sale deed of the petitioner dated 11.11.2024, pending on the file of 2nd respondent, in respect of the subject property comprised in Survey No.65/2A1, measuring 14 cents and Survey No.65/7A4 measuring 11 cents, bearing Patta No.305, situated in Thasari Kuppam Gramam, Thiruporur Taluk, Chengalpattu District.2. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the subject property was originally owned by one Devagiammal from whom the petitioner's vendor, Mr.Mani purchased the property by virtue of Sale Deed dated 12.02.1990 vide Document No.268 of 1990. Accordingly, the patta in respect of the subject property was also transferred in the name of petitioner's vendor with Patta No.305. It is further submitted that the petitioner's vendor offered to sell the subject property to the petitioner and a Sale Deed was also executed by petitioner's vendor in favour of the petitioner. 2.1. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner along with petitioner's vendor approached the 2nd respondent for registering the Sale Deed. However, the 2nd respondent had orally rejected to 2/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. No.39677 of 2024register the sale deed on the premise that the original parent document was not furnished. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner had also submitted a representation on 03.12.2024 before the respondents. However, no steps has been taken by the respondents. 2.2. The learned counsel for the petitioner placed reliance upon the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of K. Gopi v. Sub-Registrar, reported in 2025 SCC OnLine SC 740 , wherein Rule 55A of Registration Rules was found to be ultra vires in the Registration Act, 1908, wherein it was held as under: “13. In contrast, Rule 55A empowers the registering officer to refuse registration unless the presentant produces the original deed by which the executant acquired rights over the subject property and an encumbrance certificate pertaining to the property, obtained within ten days from the date of presentation. If the original deed is not available due to its antiquity, the registration of the presented document will be refused unless the presenter produces a revenue record that evidences the executant's right over the subject property. If the original deed is lost, the document cannot be registered unless a non-traceable certificate is issued by the police department along with an advertisement published in the local newspaper, giving notice of the loss of the previous original deed.14. In short, Rule 55A provides that unless documents are produced to prove that the executant has a right in respect of the property subject matter of the instrument, the registration of the same shall be refused. Thus, if a sale deed is presented for registration, documents must be produced to demonstrate that the executant has acquired ownership of the property. In a sense, power has been conferred on the registering officer to verify the title of the executant. Unless documents are produced evidencing title as required by Rule 55A(i), registration of the sale deed shall be refused.3/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. No.39677 of 202415. The registering officer is not concerned with the title held by the executant. He has no adjudicatory power to decide whether the executant has any title. Even if an executant executes a sale deed or a lease in respect of a land in respect of which he has no title, the registering officer cannot refuse to register the document if all the procedural compliances are made and the necessary stamp duty as well as registration charges/fee are paid. We may note here that under the scheme of the 1908 Act, it is not the function of the Sub-Registrar or Registering Authority to ascertain whether the vendor has title to the property which he is seeking to transfer. Once the registering authority is satisfied that the parties to the document are present before him and the parties admit execution thereof before him, subject to making procedural compliances as narrated above, the document must be registered. The execution and registration of a document have the effect of transferring only those rights, if any, that the executant possesses. If the executant has no right, title, or interest in the property, the registered document cannot effect any transfer.16. Therefore, assuming that there is a power under Section 69 of the 1908 Act to frame the Rules, Rule 55A(i) is inconsistent with the provisions of the 1908 Act. Due to the inconsistency, Rule 55A(i) will have to be declared ultra vires the 1908 Act. The rule-making power under Section 69 cannot be exercised to make a Rule that is inconsistent with the provisions of the 1908 Act. Rule 55A(i) is accordingly declared as ultra vires the 1908 Act.17. As the writ petition filed by the appellant was dismissed by the High Court, relying on Rule 55A(i), and since Rule 55A(i) is held to be invalid, the impugned judgments must be quashed and set aside. Ordered accordingly.”2.3. It is further submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that in view of the above order of the Apex Court a Circular in Lr.No.44420/C1/2024 dated 28.04.2025 also came to be issued, wherein instructions have been issued that the registering officer shall not insist on production of original previous documents or non traceable certificate from the police department. The relevant 4/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. No.39677 of 2024portion of the Circular is extracted hereunder:“CircularLr.No.44420/C1/2024. DT. 28.04.2025.....(4) In other words the Registering Officer shall not insist production of Original Previous documents or Non-Traceable Certificate from the Police Department or Encumbrance Certificate and other Revenue details from the Registrants.” 3. When this was pointed out, the learned Government Advocate appearing for respondents would submit that they would reconsider the petitioner's request of registering the sale deed dated 11.11.2024, in the light of judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of K. Gopi v. Sub-Registrar (supra) and the consequential Circular in Lr.No.44420/C1/2024 dated 28.04.2025.4. In view thereof, the writ petition stands disposed of. It is open to the petitioner to re-present the Sale Deed and if any such sale deed is re-presented the 2nd respondent is directed to proceed with registration of the Sale Deed keeping in view the law laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of K. Gopi v. Sub-Registrar (supra) and the instructions laid down in Circular Lr.No.44420/C1/2024 dated 28.04.2025 and would proceed to register if it is 5/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. No.39677 of 2024otherwise in order. If for any reason, the registering authority refuses to register the Sale Deed, the same would be done by issuing a refusal slip assigning reasons. No costs. 13.06.2025 Speaking (or) Non Speaking OrderIndex : Yes/ NoNeutral Citation: Yes/NosppTo:1. The Inspector General of Registration, No.100, Santhome High Road, Santhome, Chennai 600 028. 2. The Sub Registrar-II, Sub Registrar Office, Kanchipuram High Road, Natham, Chengalpattu 603 002. 6/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. No.39677 of 2024MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J.sppW.P. No.39677 of 202413.06.20257/7