Balakrishnan v. The District Registrar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 28.06.2024
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR Balakrishnan ...
Petitioner versus 1.The District Registrar, Salem, Salem District.
2.The Sub Registrar, Gangavalli, Salem District.
...
Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records pertaining to the Refusal Check Slip in Refusal No.RFL/Gangavalli/1/2024 dated 08.01.2024 passed by the second respondent and to quash the same as illegal, incompetent and ultra vires and consequently direct the second respondent to register and release the settlement deed dated 27.09.2023 to the petitioner.
For Petitioner :
Mr.S.Sathish Kumar For Respondents :
Mr.B.Vijay Additional Government Pleader
O R D E R
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By consent of both sides, this Writ Petition is disposed of at the stage of admission itself.
2.
This Writ Petition is filed to quash the Refusal Check Slip in Refusal No.RFL/Gangavalli/1/2024 dated 08.01.2024 and consequently, direct the second respondent to register the same. 3.
It is the grievance of the writ petitioner that when the settlement deed was presented for registration, the second respondent refused to register the same on the ground that the original document has not been filed by the petitioner.
4.
Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader for the respondents and perused the materials available on record.
5.
I have perused entire records. This Court in Federal Bank Vs. Sub Registrar and two others in W.P.No.2759 of 2023 dated 08.02.2023, has held as follows :- "22. Similarly, the second proviso requires the executant to produce a revenue record to show his "right over the subject property" where the property is ancestral in 2/6
character and there is no original deed available. Even a tax receipt can be produced under this proviso which is opposed to the fundamental principle of law that revenue records are not documents of title [State of A.P. v Star Bone Mill and Fertilizer Company, 2013 9 SCC 319]. Production of revenue documents to verify the source of title only demonstrates complete ignorance of the settled position of law.
23. Similarly, the third proviso also defies logic. If the original is lost, it is not understood as to why a certified copy of that document obtained from the file of the concerned SRO cannot be produced. When the best evidence is not available, the best course is to produce a certified copy which is the next best available alternative. Instead, the third proviso requires the executant to obtain a nontraceable certificate and effect paper publication.
24. It is also well settled by the decision of the Supreme Court in J.K. Industries Ltd. v. Union of India, (2007) 13 SCC 673 that a subordinate legislation may be struck down as arbitrary or contrary to statute if it fails to take into account vital facts which expressly or by necessary implication are required to be taken into account by the statute or the Constitution. Furthermore, Rule 55-A is a delegated legislation which cannot go beyond the scope of the Parent Act viz., the Registration Act as well the Transfer of Property Act which is the substantive law governing the transfer of immovable properties. Hence, the first proviso is clearly ultra vires and unconstitutional."
6.
Considering the above, the second respondent cannot refuse the registration of the document citing non-production of original. They can very well verify the certificate available with them. 7.
Such view of the matter, the Refusal Check Slip in Refusal No.RFL/Gangavalli/1/2024 dated 08.01.2024 issued by the second 3/6
respondent is set aside. The second respondent is directed to register the settlement deed dated 27.09.2023 within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
8.
With the above directions, this Writ Petition is allowed. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. 28.06.2024 Speaking order / Non-speaking order Index : Yes / No : Yes / No sri 4/6
To 1.The District Registrar, Salem, Salem District.
2.The Sub Registrar, Gangavalli, Salem District.
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N.SATHISH KUMAR , J.
sri 28.06.2024 6/6