K.R.Sivadharmaraja v. The Inspector General Of
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 06.06.2023
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI K.R.Sivadharmaraja ... Petitioner versus
1. The Inspector General of Registration, Office of the Inspector General, Santhome, Chennai - 600 028.
2. The District Registrar, Virudhunagar District, Collectorate Complex, Virudhunagar.
3. The Sub Registrar, Office of the Sub Registrar, Rajapalayam - 626 117, Virudhunagar District.
... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the 2nd respondent to pass an appropriate order in pursuance of the enquiry conducted and on the basis of the documents filed by the petitioner. 1/5
For Petitioner : Mr.M.Ashok Kumar For Respondents : Mr.P.T.Thiraviam, Government Advocate
ORDER
The petitioner filed this writ petition for a mandamus directing the second respondent to cancel the settlement deed dated 21.03.2012 as per the Circular No.67, dated 03.11.2011.
2. The Inspector General of Registration vide his proceedings in letter No.41530/u1/2017 dated 20.10.2017 has withdrawn the Circular No. 67 and the District Registrars were also informed to return the petitions received under Circular No.67, subsequent to the decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Satya Pal Anand v. State of M.P., [(2016) 10 SCC 767]. In the said decision, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has held that the power to cancel the registration is a substantive matter and in the absence of any express provision on that behalf, it is not open to assume that the Registering Officer would be competent to cancel the registration of the 2/5
documents in question.
3. Thereafter, for cancellation of registered documents, the State of Tamil Nadu brought an amendment to the Registration Act vide the Registration (Tamil Nadu Second Amendment) Act, 2021. By this amendment, Sections 22B, 77A, 77B, 81A and 81B were inserted in the Registration Act. Section 77A provides the power to the Registrar to cancel the registered documents, if found to be fraudulent. However, this Court in S.M. Hajabakrutheen v. The Inspector General of Registration [W.P.(MD)Nos.14546 of 2022, etc., batch dated 27.03.2023] has referred the issue regarding the applicability of Section 77A of the Act to the documents that were registered prior to its enactment, for consideration by a Larger Bench of this Court.
4. In view of the above position, this writ petition is disposed with a liberty to the petitioner to approach the competent civil Court to work out his remedy. If any suit is filed by the petitioner, the same shall be 3/5
entertained by the civil Court by excluding the period for which this writ petition was pending before this Court for the purpose of calculating the limitation period. Liberty is also granted to the writ petitioner to invoke Section 77A of the Act upon the outcome of the reference made. There shall be no order as to costs.
06.06.2023 ogy Index : Yes / No.
Internet : Yes / No.
NCC : Yes / No.
ogy To
1. The Inspector General of Registration, Office of the Inspector General, Santhome, Chennai - 600 028.
2. The District Registrar, Virudhunagar District, Collectorate Complex, Virudhunagar.
3. The Sub Registrar, Office of the Sub Registrar, 4/5
Rajapalayam - 626 117, Virudhunagar District.
B.PUGALENDHI, J.
ogy 06.06.2023 5/5