Registration Act, 1908

THE
REGISTRATION ACT
1908
The Registration Act 1908 1

THE REGISTRATION ACT 1908 (16 OF 1908)
(As applicable in Maharashtra)
AN ACT TO CONSOLIDATE THE ENACTMENTS RELATING TO THE

REGISTRATION OF DOCUMENTS
WHEREAS it is expedien t to consolidate the enactments relating to the Registration of doc-

uments; it is hereby enacted as follows:
PART I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, Extent and Commencement:-
(1) This Act may be called the Registration Act, 1908.
(2) It extends to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir:
Provided that the State Government may exclude any District or tracts country from its oper-
ation.
(3) It shall come into force on the first day of January 1909.
2. Definitions:- In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-
(1) "addition " means the place of residence, and the profession, trade, rank and title if any of
a person described, and in the case of an Indian his father's name, or where he is usually de-
scribed as the son of his mother, then his mother's name;
(2) “book" includes, portion of a book and also any number of sheets connected together
with a view of forming a book or portion of a book;
(3) "district" and "sub-district" respectively means a district and sub-district formed under this
Act;
(4) "District Court" includes the High Court in its ordinary original civil jurisdiction;
(5) "endorsement" and "endorsed" include and apply to an entry in writing by a registering of-
ficer on a rider or covering slip to any document tendered for registration under this Act;
(6) "immovable property" includes land, building, hereditary allowances, rights to ways lights,
ferries, fisheries or any other benefit to arise out of land, and things attached to the earth or perma-
nently fastened to anything which is attached to the earth but not standing timber, growing crop nor
grass.
(6-A) "India" means the territory of India excluding the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
(7) "lease" includes a counterpart, Kabuliyat, an undertaking to cultivate or occupy, and an

agreement to lease;

(8) "minor" means a person who, according to the personal law to which he is subject, has
not attained majority;
(9) " movable property" includes standing timber, growing crops and grass, fruit upon and
juice in trees, and property of every other description, except immovable property; and
(10) "representative" includes the guardian of a minor and the committee or other legal cura-
tor of a lunatic or idiot;
(11) 2[Omitted].
PART II
OF THE REGISTRATION ESTABLISHMENT
3. Inspector- General of Registration:-
(1) The State Government shall appoint an officer to be the Inspector-General of Registra-
tion for the territories subject to such Government:
Provided that the State Government may, instead of making such appointment, direct that all
or any of the powers and duties hereinafter conferred and imposed upon the Inspector - General
shall be exercised and performed by such officer or officers, and within such local limits, as the
State Government appoints in this behalf.
(2) Any Inspector- General may hold simultaneously any other office under the Government .
4. [Branch Inspector- General of Sindh]:- Repealed by the Adaptation of Indian Laws Or-
der in Council.
5. Districts and Sub-Districts:-
(1) For the purposes of this Act, the State Government shall form districts and sub - districts,
and shall prescribe, and may alter, the limits of such districts and sub - districts.
(2) The districts and sub-districts formed under this section, together with the limits thereof,
and every alternation of such limits, shall be notified in the Official Gazette.
(3) Every such alteration shall take effect on such day after the date of the notification as is
therein mentioned.
6. Registrars and Sub –Registrars:- The State Government may appoint such persons,
whether public officers or not, as it thinks proper, to be Registrars of the several districts, and to be
Sub-Registrars of the several sub -districts formed as aforesaid, respectively.
[* * * * *]
6 - A Joint District Registrar:- The State Government may by order also appoint a Joint
District Registrar to assist the District Registrar, or any two or more District Registrars specified in
the order and may authorise such -Joint District Registrars to exercise and perform all or any of the
powers and duties of the District Registrar under this Act.
7. Offices of Registrar and Sub-Registrar:-

(1) The State Government shall establish every district an office to be styled the office of the
Registrar and in every sub - district an office or offices to be styled the office of the Sub Registrar or
the offices of the Joint Sub - Registrars.
Provided that, the State Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, Specify
the document for registration by the office of the Joint Sub-Registrar so established .
* The state amendment w.e.f. 1/4/2013.
(2) The State Government may amalgamate with any office of a Registrar any office of a Sub
- Registrar subordinate to such Registrar, and may authorize any Sub - Registrar whose office has
been so amalgamated to exercise and perform, in addition to his own powers and duties all or any
of the powers and duties of the Registrar to whom he is subordinate:
Provided that no such authorization shall enable a Sub-Registrar to hear an appeal against
an order passed by himself under this Act.
8. Inspectors of Registration offices:–
(1) The State Government may also appoint officers, to be called Inspectors of Registration
offices, and may prescribe the duties of' such officers.
[* * * * *]
(2) Every such Inspector shall be subordinate to the Inspector - General.
9. [Military cantonments may be declared sub–districts or districts.]
10. Absence of Registrar or Vacancy in his Office:-
(1) When any Registrar, other than the Registrar of a District including a Presidency town is
absent otherwise than on duty in his district, or when his office is temporarily vacant, any person
whom the Inspector - General appoints in this behalf, or, in default of such appointment the Judge of
the District Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the Registrar's office is situate shall be
the Registrar during such absence or until the State Government fills up the vacancy.
(2) When the Registrar of a district including a Presidency - town is absent otherwise than on
duty in his district, or when his office is temporarily vacant, any person whom the Inspector -General
appoints in this behalf shall be the Registrar during such absence, or until the State Government fills
up the vacancy.
11. Absence of Registrar on duty in his district:- When any Registrar is absent from his
office on duty in his district, he may appoint any Sub -Registrar or other person in his district to per-
form, during such absence, all the duties of a Registrar except those mentioned in sections 68 and
72.
12. Absence of Sub-Registrar or vacancy in his office:- When any Sub-Registrar is ab-
sent, or when his office is temporarily vacant, any person whom the Registrar of his district appoints
in this behalf shall be sub-Registrar during such absence, or until [the vacancy is filled up.
13. (1) and (2) [Report to Provincial Government of appointments under sections 10, 11 and
12] . Repealed by Bom. V of 1929.
14. Establishments of registering officers:-

(1) [* * *]
(2) The State Government may allow proper establishments for several offices under this
Act.
15. Seal of Registering Officer:– The several Registrars and Sub-Registrars shall use a
seal bearing the following inscription in English and in such other language as the State Govern-
ment directs:- " The seal of the Registrar or of the Sub - Registrar of ........”
16. Register- books and fire-proof boxes:-
(1) The State Government shall provide for the office of every registering officer books ne-
cessary for the purpose of this Act.
(2) The books so provided shall contain the forms, from time to time prescribed by the In-
spector - General, with the sanction of the State Government and the pages of such books shall be
consecutively numbered in print, and the number of pages in each book shall be certified on the
title-page by the officer by whom such books are issued.
(3) The State Government shall supply the office of every Registrar with a fire - proof box,
and shall in each district make suitable provision for the safe custody of the records connected with
the registration of documents in such district.
16-A. Keeping of books in computer floppies and diskettes, etc.-
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 16, the books provided under sub-section
(1) of that section may also be kept in computers floppies or diskettes or in any other electronic form
in the manner and subject to the safeguards as may be prescribed by the Inspector General with the
sanction of the State Government.
(2) Notwithstanding, anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in
force, a copy or extracts from the books kept under sub-section (1) given by the registering officer
under his hand and seal shall be deemed to be copy given under section 57 for the purposes of
sub-section (5) of that section.
PART III
OF REGISTRABLE DOUCMENTS
17. Documents of which registration is compulsory:-
(1) The following documents shall be registered. if the property to which they relate is situate
in a district in which, and if they have been executed on or after the date on which, Act No. XVI of
1864, or the Indian Registration Act, 1866 (XX of 1866) or the Registration Act, 1871 (VIII of 1871)
or the Indian Registration Act, 1877 (III of 1877) or this Act came or comes into force, namely:-
(a) instruments of gift of immoveable property;
(b) other non-testamentary instruments which purport or operate, create, declare, assign,
limit or extinguish, whether in present or in future any right, title or interest, whether vested or con-
tingent, of the value of one hundred rupees and upwards, to or in immovable property;
(c) non-testamentary instruments which acknowledge the receipt or payment of any consid-
eration on account of the creation, declaration, assignment, limitation or extinction of any such right,
title or interest; and
(d) leases of immovable property from year to year, or for any term exceeding one year, or
reserving a yearly rent;

(e) non -testamentary instruments transferring or assigning any decree or order of a Court
or any award when such decree or order or award purports or operates to create, declare, assign,
limit or extinguish, whether in present or in future, any right, title or interest, whether vested or con-
tingent, of the value of one hundred rupees and upwards, to or in immovable property:
Provided that the State Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, exempt
from the operation of this sub - section any lease executed in any district, or part of a district, the
terms granted by which do not exceed five years and the annual rent reserved by which do not ex-
ceed fifty rupees.
* (f) agreement relating to the Deposit of title deeds, where such deposit has been made by
way of security for the repayment of a loan or an existing or future debts ;
(g)sale certificate issued by any competent officer or authority under any recovery Act ;
(h) irrevocable Power of Attorney relating to transfer of immovable property in any way, ex-
ecuted on or after the commencement of the Registration (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 2010.
(IA) The documents containing contracts to transfer for consideration, any immovable
property for the purpose of section 53A of the Transfer of property Act, 1882 shall be registered if
they have been executed on or after the commencement of the Registration and other related laws
(Amendment) Act, 2001 and is such documents are not registered on or after such commencement,
then, they shall have no effect for the purposes of the said section 53A.
(2) Nothing in clauses (b) and (c) of sub - section (1) applies to – :
(i) any composition - deed; or
(ii) any instrument relating to shares in a Joint Stock Company, not withstanding that the as-
sets of such Company consists in whole or in part of immovable property; or
(iii) any debenture issued by any such Company, and not creating, declaring, assigning, li-
miting or extinguishing any right, title or interest, to or in immovable property except in so far as it
entitles the holder of the security afforded by a registered instrument whereby the Company has
mortgaged, conveyed or otherwise transferred the whole or part of its immovable property, or any
interest therein to trustees upon trust for the benefit of the holders of such debentures; or
(iv) any endorsement upon or transfer of any debenture issued by any such Company; or
(v) any document “any document other than the documents specified in sub-section (1A)”
not itself creating, declaring, assigning, limiting or extinguishing any right, title or interest of the value
of one hundred rupees and upwards, to or in immovable property, but merely creating a right to ob-
tain another document which will, when executed, create, declare, assign, limit or extinguish any
such right, title or interest; or
(vi) any decree or order of a Court except a decree or order expressed to be made on a
compromise and comprising immovable property other than that which is the subject-matter of the
suit or proceeding ; or
(vii) any grant of immovable property by the State Government ;or
(viii) any instrument of partition made by a Revenue - officer; or
(ix) any order granting a loan or Instrument of collateral security granted under the Land Im-
provement Act, 1871, (XXV of 1871) or the Land Improvement Loans Act, 1883 (XIX of 1883); or

(x) any order granting a loan under the Agriculturists Loan Act, 1884 (XII of 1884) or under
the Bombay Non –Agriculturists Loans Act 1928, or instrument for securing the repayment of a loan
made under either of those Acts; or
(xa) any order made under the Charitable Endowments Act, 1890 (VI of 1890), vesting any
property in a Treasurer of Charitable Endowments or divesting such Treasurer of any property; or
(xi) any endorsement on a mortgage - deed acknowledging the payment of the whole or any
part of the mortgage - money, and any other receipt for payment of money due under a mortgage
when the receipt does not purport to extinguish the mortgage; or
(xii) any certificate of sale granted to the purchaser of any property sold by public auction by
a Civil or Revenue officer.
[Explanation:- A document purporting or operating to effect a contract for the sale of immov-
able property shall not be deemed to require or ever to have required registration by reason only of
the fact that such document contains a recital of the payment of any earnest - money or of the whole
or any part of the purchase money.]
(3) Authorities to adopt a son, executed after the first day of January 1872 and not conferred
by a will shall be registered.
18. Documents of which registration is optional:- Any of the following documents may be
registered under this Act, namely:-
(a) instruments (other than instruments of gift and wills) which purport or operate to create,
declare, assign, limit or extinguish, whether in present or in future, any right, title or interest, whether
vested or contingent, of a value less than one hundred rupees; to or in immovable property;
(b) instruments acknowledging the receipt or payment of any consideration on account of the
creation, declaration, assignment, limitation or extinction of any such right, title or interest;
(c) leases of immovable property for any term not exceeding one year, and leases exempted
under section 17;
(cc) instruments transferring or assigning any decree or order of a Court or any award when
such decree or order or award purports or operates to create, declare, assign, limit or extinguish,
whether in present or in future, any right, title or interest, whether vested or contingent, of a value
less than one hundred rupees to or in immovable property;
(d) instruments (other than wills) which purport or operate to create, declare, assign, limit or
extinguish any right, title or interest to or in movable property;
(e) Wills;
(ee) notice of pending suits or proceedings referred to in section 52 of the Transfer of Prop-
erty Act, 1882 (1V of 1882) and;
(f) all other documents not required by section 17 to be registered.
19. Documents in language not understood by registering officer:- If any document duly
presented for registration be in a language which the registering officer does not understand, and
which is not commonly used in the district, he shall refuse to register the document, unless it be ac-
companied by a true translation into a language commonly used in the district and also by a true
copy.

20. Documents containing interlineations, blanks, erasures or alternations:-
(1) The registering officer may in his discretion refuse to accept for registration any docu-
ments in which any interlineations, blank, erasure or alternation appears, unless the person execut-
ing the documents attest with their signatures or initials such interlineations, blank, erasure or alter-
nation.
(2) If the registering officer registers any such document, he shall, at the time of registering
the same , make a note in the register of such interlineations, blank, erasure or alternation.
21. Description of property and maps or plans:-
(1) No non-testamentary document relating to immovable property shall be accepted for reg-
istration unless it contains a description of such property sufficient to identify the same.
(2) Houses in towns shall be described as situate on the north or other sides of the street or
road (which should be specified) to which they front and by their existing and former occupancies,
and by their numbers if the houses in such street or road are numbered. In all city surveyed areas,
houses and lands shall also be described by their cadastral survey numbers as in the city survey
maps and records.
(3) Other houses and lands shall be described by their name, if any, and as being in the ter-
ritorial division in which they are situate, and by their superficial contents, the roads and other prop-
erties on which they about , and their existing occupancies, and also, whenever it is practicable, by
reference to a Government map or survey.
(4) No non-testamentary documents containing a map or plan of property comprised therein

shall be accepted for registration unless it is accompanied by a true copy of the map or plan or in
case such property is situate in several districts, by such number of true copies of the amp or plan
as are equal to the number of such districts.
22. Description of houses and land by reference to Government maps or surveys:-
(1) Where it is, in the opinion of the State Government practicable to describe houses, not
being houses in towns, and lands by reference to a Government map or survey, the State Govern-
ment may, by rule made under this Act, require that such houses and lands as aforesaid shall, for
the purpose of section 21, be so described.
(2) Except in the case of city surveyed areas and except as otherwise provided by any rule
made under sub - section (1), failure to comply with the provisions of section 21, sub - section (2) or
sub-section (3) shall not disentitle a document to be registered if the description of the property to
which it relates is sufficient to identify that property.
22A. Deleted.
PART IV
OF THE TIME OF PRESENTATION
23. Time for presenting documents:- Subject to the provisions contained in section 24, 25
and 26, no document other than a will shall be accepted for registration unless presented for that
purpose to the proper officer within four months from the date of its execution:
Provided that a copy of a decree or order may be presented within four months from the day
on which the decree or order was made, or, where it is applicable within four months from the day
on which it becomes final.

23A. Re-registration of certain documents:- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary con-
tained in this Act, if in any case a document requiring registration has been accepted for registration
by a Registrar or Sub-Registrar from a person not duly empowered to present the same, and has
been registered, any person claiming under such document may, within four months from his first
becoming aware that the registration of such document is invalid, present such document or cause
the same to be presented, in accordance with the provisions of Part VI for re -registration in the of-
fice of the Registrar of the District in which the document was originally registered; and upon the
Registrar being satisfied that the document was so accepted for registration from a person not duly
empowered to present the same, he shall proceed to the re - registration of the document as if it had
not been previously registered, and as if such presentation for re - registration was a presentation
for registration made within the time allowed therefore under Part IV, and all the provisions of this
Act, as to registration of documents, shall apply to such re - registration; and such document, if duly
re-registered in accordance with the provisions of this section, shall be deemed to have been duly
registered for all purposes from the date of its original registration:
Provided that, within three months from the twelfth day of September 1917, any person
claiming under a document to which this section applies may present the same or cause the same
to be presented for re - registration in accordance with this section, whatever may have been the
time when he first became aware that the registration of the document was invalid.
24. Documents executed by several persons at different times:- Where there are sever-
al persons executing a document at different times, such document may be presented for registra-
tion and re - registration within four months from the date of each execution.
25. Provision where delay in presentation is unavoidable:-
(1) If, owing to urgent necessity or unavoidable accident, any document executed, or copy of
a decree or order made, in India is not presented for registration till after the expiration of the time
hereinbefore prescribed in that behalf, the Registrar in cases where the delay in presentation does
not exceed four months, may direct that, on payment of a fine not exceeding ten times the amount
of the proper registration – fee, such document shall be accepted for registration.
(2) Any application for such direction may be lodged with a Sub-Registrar, who shall forth-
with forward it to the Registrar to whom he is subordinate.
26. Documents executed out of India:- When a document purporting to have been ex-
ecuted by all or any of the parties out of India is not presented for registration till after the expiration
of the time hereinbefore prescribed in that behalf, the registering officer, if satisfied -
(a) that the instrument was so executed, and
(b) that it has been presented for registration within four months after its arrival in [India]
may, on payment of the proper registration - fee, accept such document for registration.
27. Wills may be presented or deposited at any time:- A will may at any time be pre-
sented for registration or deposited in manner hereinafter provided.
PART V
OF THE PLACE OF REGISTRATION
28. Place for registering documents relating to land:- Save as in this Part otherwise pro-
vided every document mentioned in section 17, sub - section (1) clauses (a), (b), (c), and (d), and
(e) section 17, sub -section (2) in so far as such document affects immoveable property] and section
18, clauses (a), (b), (c), (cc), (e) and (ee) shall be presented for registration in the office of a Sub-
Registrar within whose sub-district the whole or some portion of the property to which such docu-
ment relates is situate.
29. Place for registering other documents:-

(I) Every document not being a document referred to in section 28 or a copy of a decree or
order may be presented for registration either in the office of the Sub - Registrar in whose sub - dis-
trict the document was executed, or in the office of any other Sub - Registrar under State Govern-
ment at which all the persons executing and claiming under the document desire the same to be
registered.
(2) A copy of a decree or order may be presented for registration in the office of the Sub -
Registrar in whose sub - district the original decree or order was made, or, where the decree or or-
der does not affect immovable property, in the office of any other Sub-Registrar under the State
Government at which all the persons claiming under the decree or order desire the copy to be regis-
tered.
30. Registration by, Registrar in certain cases:- (1) Any Registrar may in his discretion
receive and register any document which might be registered by any Sub-Registrar subordinate to
him.
(2) [Deleted].
31. Registration or acceptance for deposit at private residence:- In ordinary cases the
registration or deposit of documents under this Act shall be made only at the office of the officer au-
thorized to accept the same for registration or deposit.
Provided that such officer may on special cause being shown attend at the residence of any
person desiring to present a document for registration or to deposit a will, and accept for registration
or deposit such document or will.
PART VI
OF PRESENTING DOCUMENT FOR REGISTRATION
32. Persons to present documents for registration:- Except in the cases mentioned in
sections 31, 88 and 89 *or when the document is presented by electronic means, every document
to be registered under this Act, whether such registration be compulsory or optional, shall be pre-
sented at the proper registration office,-
(a) by same person executing, or claiming under the same, or in the case of a copy of a de-
cree or order, claiming under the decree or order, or
(b) by the representative or assign of such person, or
(c) by the agent of such person, representative or assign, duly authorised by power-of-
attorney executed and authenticated in manner hereinafter mentioned.
32-A. Compulsory affixing of photograph, etc:- Every person presenting any document at
the proper registration office under section 32 shall affix his passport size photograph and finger-
prints to the document:
Provided that where such document relates to the transfer of ownership of immovable prop-
erty, the passport size photograph and the finger-prints of each buyer and seller of such property
mentioned in the document shall also be affixed to the document.
33. Power-of-attorney recognizable for purposes of section 32:–
(1) For the purpose of section 32, the following Powers - of - attorney shall alone be recog-
nized, namely.

(a) If the principal at the time of executing the power of attorney resides in any part of India
in which this Act is for the time being in force, a power-of-attorney executed before and authenti-
cated by the Registrar or Sub Registrar within whose district or sub - district the principal resides:
(b) if the principal at the time aforesaid resides in any part of India in which this Act is not in
force a power - of - attorney executed before and authenticated by any Magistrate;

(c) if the principal at the time aforesaid does not reside in India a power-of-attorney executed
before and authenticated by a Notary Public, or any Court, Judge, Magistrate Indian Consul or Vice
Consul, or representative of the Central Government:
Provided that the following persons shall not be required to attend at any registration - office
or Court for the purpose of executing any such power-of-attorney as is mentioned in clauses (a) and
(b) of this section, namely -
(i) persons who by reason of bodily infirmity are unable without risk or serious inconvenience
so to attend;
(ii) Persons who are in jail under civil or criminal process; and
(iii) persons exempt by law from personal appearance in Court.
Explanation:- In this sub-section "India" means India, as defined in clause (28) of section 3 of
the General Clauses Act, 1897 (X of 1897).
(2) In the case of every such person the Registrar or Sub-Registrar or Magistrate, as the
case may be, if satisfied that the power - of - attorney has been voluntarily executed by the person
purporting to be the principal may attest the same without requiring his personal attendance at the
office or Court aforesaid.
(3) To obtain evidence as to the voluntary nature of the execution, the Registrar, Sub -
Registrar or Magistrate may either himself go to the house of the person purporting to be the prin-
cipal, or to jail in which he is confined and examine him, or issue a commission for his examination.
(4) Any power -of- attorney mentioned in this section may be proved by the production of it
without further proof when it purports on the face of it to have been executed before and authenti-
cated by the person or Court hereinbefore mentioned in that behalf.
34. Enquiry before registration:-
(1) Subject to the provisions contained in this part and in section 41, 43, 4.5, 69, 75, 77, 88
and 89, no document shall be registered under this Act, unless the persons executing such docu-
ment, or their representatives, assigns or agents authorised as aforesaid, appear before the regis-
tering officer within the time allowed for presentation under section 23, 24, 25, and 26:
Provided that, if owing to urgent necessity or unavoidable accident all such persons do not
so appear, the Registrar, in cases where the delay in appearing does not exceed four months, may
direct that on payment of a fine not exceeding ten times the amount of the proper registration fee, in
addition to the fine if any, payable under section 25, the document may be registered.
Provided further that, when such document is presented by electronic means, the personal
appearance shall not be required ;
(2) Appearance under sub-section (1) may be simultaneous or at different times.
(3) The registering officer shall thereupon -

(a) enquire whether or not such document was executed by the persons by whom it purports
to have been executed;
(b) satisfy himself as to the identity of the persons appearing before him and alleging that
they have executed the document; and,

(c) in the case of any person appearing as a representative, assign or agent satisfy himself
of the right of such person so to appear.
* Provided that, when such document is presented by electronic means, the enquiry shall be
done as per the rules made in this behalf
(4) Any application for a direction under the * first proviso to sub -section (1) may be lodged
with a Sub - Registrar, who shall forthwith forward it to the Registrar to whom he is subordinate.
(5) Nothing in this section applies to copies of decrees or orders.
35. Procedure on admission and denial of execution respectively:-
* (1)(a) If all the persons executing the document appear personally or through
electronic means, as the case may be before the registering officer and are personally known to
him, or if he be otherwise satisfied that they are the persons they represent themselves to be and if
they all admit execution of the document, or
(b) If in the case of any person appearing by a representative, assign or agent, such repre-
sentative, assign or agent admits the execution, or
(c) If the person executing the document is dead, and his representative or assign appears
before the registering officer and admits the execution, the registering officer shall register the doc-
ument as directed in sections 58 to 61 inclusive.
(2) The registering officer may, in order to satisfy himself that the persons appearing before
him are the persons they represent themselves to be or for any other purpose contemplated by this
Act, examine any one person in his office.
* Provided that, when such document is presented by electronic means, the

procedure laid down by the rules made in this behalf shall be followed for the examination of per-
son.
(3) (a) If any person by whom the document purports to be executed denies its execution, or
(b) If any such person appears to the registering officer to be a minor, an idiot or a lunatic, or
(c) If any person by whom the document purports to be executed is dead, and his represent-
ative or assign denies its execution, the registering officer shall refuse to register the document as to
the person so denying, appearing or dead:
Provided that, where such officer is a Registrar, he shall follow the procedure prescribed in
part XII:
Provided further that the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, dec-
lare that any Sub - Registrar named in the notification shall, in respect of documents the execution
of which is denied be deemed to be a Registrar for the purposes of this sub - section and of Part XII.

PART VII
OF ENFORCING THE APPEARANCE OF EXECUTANTS AND WITNESSES
36. Procedure where appearance of executant or witness is desired:- If any person pre-
senting any document for registration or claiming under any document which is capable of being so
presented desires the appearance of any person whose presence or testimony is necessary for the
registration of such document, the registering officer in his discretion, may, upon receipt of the pre-
scribed fee issue, or may call upon such officer or Courts as the State Government directs in this
behalf to issue, a summons requiring him to appear at the registration office, either in person or by
duly authorised agent, as in the summons may be mentioned, and at a time named therein.
37. Officer or Court to issue and cause service of summons:- The officer or Court upon
receipt of the peon's fee payable in such cases, shall issue the summons accordingly, and cause it
to be served upon the person whose appearance is so required.
38. Persons exempt from appearance at registration office:–
(1)(a) A person who by reason of bodily infirmity is unable without risk or serious inconve-
nience to appear at the registration office, or
(b) a person in jail under civil or criminal process, or
(c) persons exempt by law from personal appearance in Court and who would but for the
provision next hereinafter contained be required to appear in person at the registration office, shall
not be required so to appear.
(2) In case of every such person the registering officer shall, either himself go to the house of
such person, or to the jail in which he is confined, and examine him or issue a commission for his
examination.
39. Law as to summonses, commissions and witnesses:- The law in force for the time
being as to summonses, commissions and compelling the attendance of witnesses and for their re-
muneration in suit before civil courts, shall, save as aforesaid and mutatis mutandis apply to any
summons or commission issued and any person summoned to appear under the provisions of this
Act.
PART VIII
OF PRESENTING WILLS AND AUTHORITIES TO ADOPT
40. Persons entitled to present wills and authorities to adopt:-
(1) The testator or after his death any person claiming as executor or otherwise under a will,
may present it to any Registrar or Sub -Registrar for registration.
(2) The donor, or after his death the donee, of any authority to adopt, or the adoptive son,
may present it to any Registrar or Sub - Registrar for registration.
41. Registration of wills and authorities to adopt:-
(1) A will or an authority to adopt, presented for registration, by the testator or donor, may be
registered in the same manner as any other document.

(2) A will or authority to adopt presented for registration by any other person entitled to
present it shall be registered if the registering officer is satisfied -
(a) that the will or authority was executed by the testator or donor, as the case may be;
(b) that the testator or donor is dead; and
(c) that the person presenting the will or authority is, under section 40, entitled to present the
same.
PART IX
OF THE DEPOSIT OF WILLS
42. Deposit of wills:- Any testator may either personally or by duly authorised agent deposit
with any Registrar his will in a sealed cover superscribed with the name of the testator and that of
his agent if any and with a statement of the nature of the document.
43. Procedure on deposit of wills:-
(1) On receiving such cover the Registrar if satisfied that the person presenting the same for
deposit is the testator or his agent shall transcribe in his Register - Book No. 5 the superscription
aforesaid and shall note in the same book and on the said cover the year month day and hour of
such presentation and receipt and the names of any persons who may testify to the identity of the
testator or his agent, and any legible inscription which may be on the seal of the cover.
(2) The Registrar shall then place and retain the sealed cover in his fireproof box.
44. Withdrawal of sealed cover deposited under section 42:- If the testator who has de-
posited such cover wishes to withdraw it, he may apply, either personally or by duly authorised
agent, to the Registrar who holds it in deposit, and such Registrar if satisfied that the applicant is
actually the testator or his agent, shall deliver the cover accordingly.
45. Proceeding on death of depositor:-
(1) If, on the death of a testator who has deposited a sealed cover under section 42, applica-
tion be made to the Registrar who holds it in deposit to open the same, and if the Registrar is satis-
fied that the testator is dead, he shall, in the applicant's presence, open the cover, and, at the appli-
cant's expense, cause the contents thereof to be copied into his Book No. 3.
(2) When such copy has been made, the Registrar shall re-deposit the original will.
46. Saving of certain enactments and powers of Courts:-
(1) Nothing hereinbefore contained shall affect the provisions of Section 259 of the Indian
Succession Act, 1865 (X of 1865) or of section 81 of the Probate and Administration Act, 1881 (V of
1881), or the power of any court by order to compel the production of any will.
(2) When any such order is made, the Registrar shall, unless the will has been already co-
pied under section 45, open the cover and cause the will to be copied into his Book No. 3 and make
a note on such copy that the original has been removed into Court in pursuance of the order afore-
said.
PART X
OF THE EFFECTS OF REGISTRATION AND NON-REGISTRATION

47. Time from which registered document operates:- A registered document shall oper-
ate from time from which it would have commenced to operate if no registration thereof has been
required or made, and not from the time of its registration.
48. Registered document relating to property when to take effect against oral agree-
ments:- All non - testamentary documents duly registered under this Act and relating to any proper-
ty, whether movable or immovable shall take effect against any oral agreement or declaration relat-
ing to such property, unless where the agreement or declaration has been accompanied or followed
by delivery of possession and the same constitutes a valid transfer under any law for the time being
in force:
Provided that a mortgage by deposit of title - deeds as defined in section 58 of the Transfer
of Property Act, 1882 (IV of 1882) shall take effect against any mortgage - deed subsequently ex-
ecuted and registered which relates to the same property.
49. Effect of non -registration of documents required to be registered:- No document

required by section 172 or by any provision of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (IV of 1882) to be
registered shall -
(a) affect any immovable property comprised therein, or

(b) confer any power to adopt, or
(c) be received as evidence of any transaction affecting such property or conferring such
power, unless it has been registered;
Provided that an unregistered document affecting immovable property and required by this
Act or the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (IV of 1882) to be registered may be received as evidence
of a contract in a suit for specific performance under Chapter II of the Specific Relief Act, 1887 (I of
1887), or as evidence of any collateral transaction not required to be effected by a registered in-
strument.
50. Certain registered documents relating to land to take effect against unregistered
documents:-
(1) Every document of the kinds mentioned in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of section 17, sub-
section (1) and clauses (a) and (b) of section 18, shall, if duly registered, take effect as regards the
property comprised therein, against every unregistered document relating to the same property, and
not being a decree or order, whether such unregistered document be of the same nature as the reg-
istered document or not.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) applies to leases exempted under the proviso to sub-section (1)
of section 17 or to any document mentioned in subsection (2) of the same section or to any regis-
tered document which had not priority under the law in force at the commencement of this Act.
Explanation:- In cases where Act No. XVI of 1864 or the Indian Registration Act, 1866 (XX of
186b), was in force in the place and at the time in and at which such unregistered document was
executed" unregistered " means not registered according to such Act, and, where the document is
executed after the first day of July 1871, not registered under the Indian Registration Act, 1871. (VIII
of 1871), or the Indian Registration Act, 1877 (III of 1877), or this Act.
PART XI
OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF REGISTERING OFFICERS

(A) As to the Register - books and Indexes
51. Register - books to be kept in the several offices:-
(1) The following books shall be kept in the several offices hereinafter named, namely:-
A - In all registration offices -
Book 1 "Register of non - testamentary documents relating to immovable property;"

Book 2 " Record of reasons for refusal to register,"
Book 3 "Register of wills and authorities to adopt;" and
Book 4 "Miscellaneous Register:-
B - In the offices of Registrars -

Book 5 "Register of deposits of wills."
(2) In Book 1 shall be entered or filed all documents or memoranda registered under section
17 and 18 and section 89 except sub clauses (1) and (3) thereof (1) which relate to immoveable
property, and are not wills.
(3) In Book 4 shall be entered all documents registered under clauses (d) and (1) of section
18 which do not relate to immovable property.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to require more than one set of books where the
office of the Registrar has been amalgamated with the office of a Sub-Registrar.
(5) If, in the opinion of the Registrar, any of the books mentioned in sub - section (1) is in
danger of being destroyed or becoming illegible wholly or partially, the Registrar may by a written
order direct such book or such portion thereof as he thinks fit to be recopied and authenticated in
such manner as may be prescribed under section 69, and the copy prepared and authenticated un-
der such direction shall for the purposes of this Act be deemed to have taken the place of and to be
the original book or portion and all references in this Act to the original book or portion shall be
deemed to be references to the book or portion so recopied and authenticated.
52. Duties of registering officers when document presented:-
(1) (a) The day, hour and place of presentation, the photographs and finger prints affixed
under section 32A, and the signature of every person presenting a document for registration, shall
be endorsed on every such document at the time of presenting it;
(b) a receipt for such document shall be given by the registering officer to the person pre-
senting the same; and
(c) subject to the provisions contained in section 62, every document admitted to registration
shall without unnecessary delay be copied in the book appropriated therefore according to the order
of its admission.
(2) All such books shall be authenticated at such intervals and in such manner as is from
time to time prescribed by the Inspector - General.
53. Entries to be numbered consecutively:- All entries in each book shall be numbered in
a consecutive series, which shall commence and terminate with year, a fresh series being com-
menced at the beginning of each year.

54. Current indexes and entries therein:- In every office in which any of the books herein-
before mentioned are kept, there shall be prepared current indexes of the contents of such books
and there shall also be prepared current indexes of the contents of the copies filed under sub-
sections (1) and (3) of section 89; and every entry in such indexes shall be made, so far as practic-
able, immediately after the registering officer has copied, or filed a memorandum of the document to
which it relates.
55. Indexes to be made by registering officers, and their contents:-
(1) Six such indexes shall be made in all registration offices, and shall be named, respective-
ly, Index No. I, Index No. l - A, Index No. II, Index No-II - A,. Index No-III and Index No. IV.
(2) Index No. I shall contain the names including the father's name, or in the case of persons
usually described by their mother's name, the mother's name, and the places of residence of all
persons executing and of all persons claiming under every document entered or memorandum filed
in Book No. 1.
[2-A] Index No. I - A shall contain the names including the father's name, or, in the case of
persons usually described by their mother's name, the mother's name, and the places of residence
of all persons executing, and of all persons claiming under the documents of which copies are filed
under sub - section (1) or (3) of section 89.
(3) Index No. II shall contain such particulars mentioned in section 21 relating to every such
document and memorandum as the Inspector - General from time to time directs in that behalf.
[3-A] Index No. II - A shall contain such particulars mentioned in section 21 as the Inspector -
General may, from time to time, prescribe in this behalf in regard to every copy filed under sub -
section (1) or (3) of section 89
(4) Index No. III shall contain the names including the father's name, or, in the case of per-
sons usually described by their mother's name, the mother's name, and the places of residence of
all persons executing every will and authority entered in Book No. 3, and of the executors and per-
son respectively appointed there under, and after the death of the testator or the donor but not be-
fore the names including the father's name, or, in the case of persons usually described by their
mother's name, the mother's name, and the places of residence of all persons claiming under the
same.
(5) Index No. IV shall contain the names including the father's name, or, in the case of per-
sons usually described by their mother's name, the mother's name, and the places of residence of
all persons executing and of all persons claiming under every document entered in Book No. 4.
(6) Each Index shall contain such other particulars, and shall be prepared in such form, as
the Inspector-General from time to time directs.
56. [Copy of entries in Index Nos. I, II and III to be sent by Sub -Registrar to Registrar and
filed.] Repealed by Act XV of 1929.
57. Registering officers to allow inspection of certain books and indexes and to give
certified copies of entries:-
(1) Subject to the previous payment of the fees payable in that behalf, the Books Nos. 1 and
2 and the Indexes relating to Book No. 1 and, so long as they are preserved, the copies filed under
sub - sections (1) and (3) of section 89 and the indexes relating to such copies shall be at all time
open to inspection by any person applying to inspect the same; and, subject to the provisions of
section 62, copies of entries in such books shall be given to all persons applying for such copies.
(2) Subject to the same provisions, copies of entries in Book No. 3 and in the Index relating
thereto shall be given to the persons executing the documents to which such entries relate, or to

their agents, and after the death of the executants but not before) to any person applying for such
copies.
(3) Subject to the same provisions, copies of entries in Book No. 4 and in the Index relating
thereto shall be given to any person executing or claiming under the documents to which such en-
tries respectively refer, or to his agent or representative.
(4) The requisite search under this section for entries in Books Nos. 3 and 4 shall be made
only by the registering officer.
(5) All copies given under this section shall be signed and sealed by the registering officer,
and shall be admissible for the purpose of proving the contents of the original documents.
(B) As to the Procedure on admitting to Registration.
58. Particulars to be endorsed on documents admitted to registration:-
(1) On every document admitted to registration, other than copy of a decree or order, or a
copy sent to a registering officer under section 89, there shall be endorsed from time to time the fol-
lowing particulars, namely:-
(a) the signature and addition of every person admitting the execution of the docu-
ment, and, if such execution has been admitted by the representative, assign or agent of any
person, the signature and addition of such representative, assign or agent;
(b) the signature and addition of every person examined in reference to such docu-
ment under any of the provisions of this Act; and
(c) any payment of money or delivery of goods made in the presence of the register-
ing officer in reference to the execution of the document, and any admission of receipt of
consideration, in whole or in part, made in his presence in reference to such execution.
(2) If any person admitting the execution of a document refuses to endorse the same, the
registering officer shall nevertheless register it, but shall at the same time endorse a note of such
refusal.
59. Endorsements to be dated and signed by registering officer:- The registering officer
shall affix the date and his signature to all endorsements made under sections 52 and 58 relating to
the same document and made in his presence on the same day.
60. Certificate of registration:-
(1) After such of the provisions of sections 34, 35, 58 and 59 as apply to any document pre-
sented for registration have been complied with, the registering officers shall endorse thereon a cer-
tificate containing the word "registered", together with the number and page of the book in which the
document has been copied.
(2) Such certificate shall be signed, sealed and dated by the registering officer and shall then
be admissible for the purpose of proving that the document has been duly registered in manner pro-
vided by this Act, and that the facts mentioned in the endorsements referred to in section 59 have
occurred as therein mentioned.
61. Endorsement and certificate to be copied and document returned:-

(1) The endorsements and certificate referred to and mentioned in sections 59 and 60 shall
thereupon be copied into the margin of the Register book, and the copy of the map or plan if any
mentioned in section 21 shall be filed in Book No. 1 .
(2) The registration of the document shall thereupon be deemed complete, and the docu-
ment shall then be returned to the person who presented the same for registration, or to such other
person if any as he nominated in writing in that behalf on the receipt mentioned in section 52.
62. Procedure on presenting documents in language unknown to registering officer:-
(I) When a document is presented for registration under section 19, the translation shall be
transcribed in the register of documents of the nature of the original, and, together with the copy re-
ferred to in section 19, shall be filed in the registration office;
(2) The endorsements and certificate respectively mentioned in sections 59 and 60 shall be
made on the original, and, for the purpose of making the copies and memoranda required by sec-
tions 57, 64, 65 and 66, the translation shall be treated as if it were the original.
63. Power to administer oaths and record of substance of statements:-
(1) Every registering officer may at his discretion administer an oath to any person examined
by him under the provisions of this Act.
(2) Every such officer may also at his discretion record a note of the substance of the state-
ment made by each such person, and such statement shall be read over, or if made in a language
with which such person is not acquainted interpreted to. him in a language with which he is ac-
quainted, and if he admits the correctness of such note, it shall be signed by the registering officer.
(3) Every such note so signed shall be admissible for the purpose of proving that the state-
ments therein recorded were made by the persons and under the circumstances therein stated.
(C) Special Duties of Sub-Registrar,
64. Procedure where document relates to land in several sub – districts:- Every Sub -
Registrar on registering a non - testamentary document relating to immovable property not wholly
situate in his own sub - district shall make a memorandum thereof and of the endorsement and cer-
tificate if any thereon, and send the same to every other Sub-Registrar subordinate to the same Re-
gistrar as himself in whose sub-district any part of such property is situate, and such Sub - Registrar
shall file the memorandum in his Book No. 1.
65. Procedure where document relates to land in several districts:- (1) Every Sub - Re-
gistrar on registering a non - testamentary document relating to immoveable property situate in
more districts than one shall also forward a copy thereof and of the endorsement and certificate if
any thereon, together with a copy of the map or plan if any mentioned in section 21, to the Registrar
of every district in which any part of such property is situate other than the district in which his own
sub -district is situate.
(2) The Registrar on receiving the same shall file in his Book N0.1 the copy of the document
and the copy of the map or plan if any, and shall forward a memorandum of the document to each of
the Sub-Registrars subordinate to him within whose sub-district any part of such property is situate;
and every Sub-Registrar receiving such memorandum shall file it in his Book No. 1.
(D) Special Duties of Registrar

66. Procedure after registration of documents relating to land:-
(1) On registering any non - testamentary document relating to immovable property the Re-
gistrar shall forward a memorandum of such document to each Sub Registrar subordinate to himself
in whose sub - district any part of the property is situate.
(2) The Registrar shall also forward a copy of such document, together with a copy of the
map or plan if any mentioned in section. 21, to every other Registrar in whose district any part of
such property is situate.
(3) Such Registrar on receiving any such copy shall file it in his Book No. 1, and shall also
send a memorandum of the copy to each of the Sub - Registrars subordinate to him within whose
sub - district any part of the property is situate. .
(4) Every Sub-Registrar receiving any memorandum under this' section shall file it in his
Book No. 1.
67. [Deleted]
(E) Of the Controlling Powers of Registrars and Inspector-General
68. Power of Registrar to superintend and control Sub – Registrars:-
(1) Every Sub Registrar shall perform the duties of his office under the superintendent and
control of the Registrar in whose district the office of such Sub - Registrar is situate.
(2) Every Registrar shall have authority to issue whether on complaint or otherwise any order
consistent with this Act which he considers necessary in respect of any act or omission of any Sub -
Registrar subordinate to him or in respect of the rectification of any error regarding the book or the
office in which any document has been registered.
69. Powers of Inspector-General to superintend registration offices and make rules:-
(1) The Inspector - General shall exercise a general superintendent over all the registration
offices in the territories under the State Government and shall have power from time to time to make
rules consistent with this Act -
(a) providing for the safe custody of books, papers and documents.
(aa) providing the manner in which and the safeguards subject to which the books may be
kept in computer floppies or diskettes or in any other electronic form under sub-section (1) of section
16A.
(b) declaring what languages shall be deemed to be commonly used in each district;
(c) declaring what territorial divisions shall be recognized under section 21;
(d) regulating the amount of fines imposed under sections 25 and 34, respectively;
(e) regulating the exercise of the discretion reposed in the registering officer by section 63;
(f) regulating the form in which registering officers are to make memoranda of documents;
(g) regulating the authentication by Registrars and Sub-Registrars of the books kept in their
respective offices under section 51 and the manner of recopying such books or portions thereof;

(gg) regulating the manner in which the instruments referred to in sub-section (2) of section
88 may be presented for registration.
(ggg) regulating the procedure for transmitting documents for being photographed and the
serial numbering, binding and preservation of the photographic prints and negatives, the manner of
fixing the signature and seal of the Photo-Registrar at the end of length of film, and the procedure
generally in the Government Photo Registry,
(h) declaring the particulars to be contained in Index Nos. I, I - A, II,II - A, III and IV, respec-
tively;
(i) declaring the holidays that shall be observed in the registration- offices; and
(j) generally, regulating the proceedings of the Registrars and Sub-Registrars.
* (k) regulating the procedure for presentation of document, appearance for admission, en-
dorsements, manner of fixing signature and seal, mode of payment of registration fees and other
fees and such other process, when the document is presented by electronic means.
(2) The rules so made shall be submitted to the State Government, for approval, and, after
they have been approved, they shall be published in the Official Gazette, and on publication shall
have effect as if enacted in this Act.
70. Power of Inspector General to remit fines - The Inspector General may also, in the
exercise of his discretion, remit wholly or in part the difference between any fine levied under sec-
tion 25 or section 34, and the amount of the proper registration fee.
PART XI-A
OF THE COPYING OF DOCUMENTS BY MEANS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
70-A. Application of this Part:- This Part shall apply to the areas only in respect of which a
notification is issued by the (State) Government] under section 70C.
70-B. Definitions - In this part:-
(1) " Government Photo Registry " means the office where documents are photographed un-
der the provision of this Part.
(2) "Manager, Government Photo Registry" means the person in charge of the Government
Photo Registry.
(3) "Photo Registrar" means any person appointed by the (State) Government to perform the
duties of Photo Registrar under this part].
70-C. Documents may be photographed in areas notified by (State) Government]:-
(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that in any dis-
trict or sub - district specified in the notification copies of documents admitted to registration under
this Act shall be made by means of photography.
(2) On the issue of such notification it shall be translated into the vernacular of the district
and shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the Registration offices affected by the notification.

70-D. Application of Act to areas notified under section 70-C:- In any district or sub - dis-
trict in respect of which a notification has been issued under section 70-C the provisions of this Act
shall, for the purposes of this Part, be subject to the following modifications, namely:
(1) (a) Every documents admitted to registration under section 35 or section 41 shall be
carefully marked with an identification stamp and the serial number of the document on every page.
(b) It shall then be transmitted by the registering officer to the Manager, Government Photo
Registry, who shall cause, each side of each page of such document together with all stamps en-
dorsements, seals, signatures, thumb-impressions and certificates, appearing thereon to be photo-
graphed without subtraction or alteration. He may for this purpose cut or untie, without breaking any
seals, the thread or ribbon wherewith the pages of the documents are sewn together in order to
separate the pages of the documents, and, as soon as the document has been photographed, he
shall rebind the document as before and if he has cut the thread or ribbon shall seal it over the joint
with his seal:
Provided that before transmission of the document to the Manager, Government Photo Re-
gistry the party presenting the document may require the registering officer to have it copied by
hand under section 52 on payment of an additional copying fee.
(c) There shall then be prepared and preserved the negative and at least one photographic
print and to each such negative and print the Photo-Registrar shall fix his signature and seal in to-
ken of the exact correspondence of the copy to the original document, as admitted for registration:
Provided that when more than one such negative is recorded on one length of film and the
Photo -Registrar has affixed his signature and seal at the end of such length of film certifying in the
manner prescribed by rules made in this behalf, the exact correspondence of all., copies on such
length of film with the original documents, the Photo-Registrar shall be deemed to have affixed his
signature and seal to each such negative on such length of film.
Provided further that in case of documents containing plans or maps the negatives of such
plans and maps may be prepared on paper instead of on films and where the negatives are so pre-
pared, the Photo Registrar shall fix his signature and seal separately to each such negative and
print of such plan or map in token of the exact correspondence of the copy to the original map or
plan contained in the document as admitted for registration.
(d) One set of such prints arranged in the order of their serial number shall be made up into
books and sewn or bound together. To each such book the Registrar or Sub-Registrar shall affix a
certificate of the serial numbers it contains, and the book shall then be preserved in the records of
the Sub-Registrar. The negatives shall be preserved in such suitable place as the Inspector - Gen-
eral may prescribe:
Provided that prints of plans or maps contained in documents may either be bound with the
prints of such documents or filed separately in such manner as the Inspector - General may direct.
(2) All words and expression used in the Act with reference to the making of copies of docu-
ments by hand or the entering or filing of documents or memorandum in books provided under sec-
tion 16 shall, so far as may be necessary, be construed as referring to the making of such copies by
means of photography or the entering or filing of documents or memoranda in books made up of
copies prepared by means of photography.
(3) Where this Part applies the sections mentioned below shall deemed to be modified as
follows:
(a) In section 19 the words ‘and also by a true copy' shall be omitted;
(aa) sub - section (2) of section 20 shall be omitted
(b) sub – section (4) of section 21 shall be omitted ;

(c) the words ‘according to the order of its admission occurring in clause (c) of sub-section
(1) of section 52 shall be omitted;
(d) section 53 shall be omitted;
(e) in sub-section (1) of section 60 the words 'and page' shall be omitted;
(f) sub - section (1) of section 61 shall be omitted;
(g) in sub – section (1) of section 62. -;
(i) for the word ‘transcribed’ the word ‘copied’ shall be substituted; and
(ii) for the words and figures ‘copy referred to in section 19' the words 'photograph of the
original' shall be substituted.
70. E Savings:-
(1) Nothing in this part shall apply to any document , which is prepared on a printed or litho-
graphed form or which in the opinion of the registering officer is not in a fit condition to be photo-
graphed.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Part, in the case of any document containing a
map, plan, or trademark label, if the party presenting the document so desires, the registering officer
may accept true copies of such map, plan, or trademark label and where such true copies are ac-
cepted, the map, plan or trademark label shall not be photographed and such copies thereof shall
be filed in the appropriate book.
PART XII
OF REFUSAL TO REGISTER
71. Reasons for refusal to register to be recorded:-
(1) Every Sub - Registrar refusing to register a document, except on the ground that the
property to which it relates is not situate within his sub - district, shall make an order of refusal and
record his reasons for such order in his book No. 2, and endorse the words " registration refused "
on the document; and, on application made by any person executing or claiming under the docu-
ment, shall, without payment and unnecessary delay, give him a copy of the reasons so recorded.
(2) No registering officer shall accept for registration a document so endorsed unless and
until, under the provisions hereinafter contained, the document is directed to be registered.
72. Appeal to Registrar from orders of Sub-Registrar refusing registration on ground

other than denial of execution:-
(1) Except where the refusal is made on the ground of denial of execution, and appeal shall
lie against an order of a Sub - Registrar refusing to admit a document to registration (whether the
registration of such document is compulsory or optional) to the Registrar to whom such Sub – Regi-
strar is subordinate, if presented to such Registrar within thirty days from the date of the order; and
the Registrar may reverse or alter such order.
(2) If the order of the Registrar directs the document to be registered and the document is
duly presented for registration within thirty days after the making of such order, the Sub-Registrar
shall obey the same, and thereupon shall, so far as may be practicable, follow the procedure pre-
scribed in section 58, 59 and 60; and such registration shall take effect as if the document had been
registered when it was first duly presented for registration.

73. Application to Registrar where Sub -Registrar refuses to register on ground of
denial of execution:-
(1) When a Sub-Registrar has refused to register a document on the ground that any person
by whom it purports to be executed, or his representative or assign, denies its execution, any per-
son claiming under such document, or his representative, assign or agent authorised as aforesaid,
may, within thirty days after the making of the order of refusal, apply to the Registrar to whom such
Sub - Registrar is subordinate in order to establish his right to have the document registered.
(2) Such application shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by a copy of the reasons
recorded under section 71, and the statements in the application shall be verified by the applicant in
manner required by law for the verification of plaints.
74. Procedure of Registrar on such application:- An such case, and also where such
denial as aforesaid is made before a Registrar in respect of a document presented for registration to
him, the Registrar shall, as soon as convenient may enquire:-
(a) whether the document has been executed;
(b) whether the requirements of the law for the time being in force have been com-
plied with on the part of the applicant or person presenting the document for registration, as
the case may be, so as to entitle the document to registration.
75. Order by Registrar to register and procedure thereon:-
(1) If the Registrar finds that the document has been executed and that the said require-
ments have been complied with, he shall order the document to be registered.
(2) If the document is duly presented for registration within thirty days after the making of
such order, the registering officer shall obey the same and thereupon shall, so far as may be prac-
ticable, follow the procedure prescribed in section 58, 59 and 60.
(3) Such registration shall take effect as if the document had been registered when it was
first duly presented for registration.
(4) The Registrar may, for the purpose of any enquiry under section 74, summon and en-
force the attendance of witnesses, and compel them to give evidence, as if he were a Civil Court,
and he may also direct by whom the whole or any part of the costs of any such enquiry shall be
paid, and such costs shall be recoverable as if they had been awarded in a suit under the Code of
Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908)
76. Order of refusal by Registrar:-
(1) Every Registrar refusing - (a) to register a document except on the ground that the prop-
erty to which it relates is not situate within his district or that the document ought to be registered in
the office of a Sub -Registrar, or
(b) to direct the registration of a document under section 72 or section 75 shall make an or-
der of refusal and record the reasons for such order in his Book No. 2, and on application made by
any person executing or claiming under the document, shall, without unnecessary delay, give him a
copy of the reasons so recorded.
(2) No appeal lies from any order by a Registrar under this section or section 72.
77. Suit in case of order on refusal by Registrar.-

(1) Where the Registrar refuses to order the document to be registered, under section 72 or
section 76, any person claiming under such document, or his representative, assign or agent, may,
within thirty days after the making of the order of refusal, institute in the Civil Court, within the local
limits of whose original jurisdiction is situate the office in which the document is sought to be regis-
tered, a suit for a decree directing the document to be registered in such office if it be duly pre-
sented for registration within thirty days after the passing of such decree.
(2) The provisions contained in sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 75 shall, mutatis mutan-
dis, apply to all documents presented for registration in accordance with any such decree, and, not-
withstanding anything contained in this Act, the document shall he receivable in evidence in such
suit.
PART XIII
OF THE FEES FOR REGISTRATION, SEARCHES AND COPIES
78. Fees to be fixed by State Government:- The State Government shall prepare a table
of fees payable
(a) for the registration of documents;
(b) for searching the registers;
(c) for making or granting copies of reasons, entries or documents, before, on or after regis-
tration; of extra or additional fees payable
(d) for every registration under section 30;
(e) for the issue of commissions;
(f) for filling translation;
(g) for attending at private residences ;
(h) for the safe custody and return of documents; and
(i) for such other matters as appear to the State Government necessary to effect the purpos-
es of this Act.
79. Publication of fees:- A table of the fees so payable shall be published in the Official
Gazette, and a copy thereof in English and the vernacular language of the district shall be exposed
to public view in every Registration office.
80. Fees payable on presentation:-
All fees for the registration of documents under this Act shall be payable on the presentation
of such documents.
80-A. Recovery of excess registration fee as arrear of land revenue and provision for
refund:-
(1) If on inspection or otherwise it is found that any fee payable under this Act has not been
paid or has been paid insufficiently, such fee may (after failure to pay the same on demand within
the period specified therein), on a certificate of the Inspector- General of Registration, be recovered
as an arrear of land revenue from the person from whom such demand is made. The certificate of
the Inspector General shall be final and shall not be called in question in any Court or before any
authority:

Provided that, no such certificate shall granted unless due inquiry is made and such person
is given an opportunity of being heard.
(2) Where the Inspector General of Registration finds the amount of fee in excess of that
which is legally chargeable has been charged and paid under the provisions of this Act, he may,
upon an application in writing or otherwise, refund the excess.
PART XIV
OF PENALTIES
81. Penalty for incorrectly endorsing, copying, translating or registering documents

with intent to injure:- Every registering officer appointed under this Act and every person em-
ployed in his office for the purposes of this Act, who, being charged with the endorsing, copying,
translating or registering of any document presented or deposited under its provisions, endorses,
copies, translates or registers such document in a manner which he knows or believes to be incor-
rect intending thereby to cause or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby cause injury, as de-
fined in the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860), to any person shall be punishable with impri-
sonment for term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
82. Penalty for making false statements, delivering false copies or translations, Use
personation and abetment:- Whoever -
(a) intentionally makes any false statement, whether on oath or not, and whether it has been
recorded or not, before any officer acting, in execution of this Act, in any proceeding or enquiry un-
der this Act; or
(b) intentionally delivers to a registering officer in any proceeding under section 19 or section
21, a false copy or translation of a document, or a false copy of a map or plan; or
(c) falsely personates another, and in such assumed character presents any document, or
makes any admission or statement, or causes any summons or commission to be issued, or does
any other act in any proceeding or enSÉquiry under this Act; or
(d) abets anything made punishable by this Act;

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or with
fine, or with both.
83. Registering officers may, commence prosecutions:-
(1) A prosecution for any offence under this Act coming to the knowledge of a registering of-
ficer in his official capacity may be commenced by or with the permission of the Inspector General ,
the Registrar or the Sub-Registrar, in whose territories, district or sub-district as the case may be,
the offence has been committed.
(2) Offences punishable under this Act shall be trialed by any Court or officer exercising
powers not less than those of a Magistrate of the second class.
84. Registering officers to be deemed public servants:-
(1) Every registering officer appointed under this Act shall be deemed to be a public servant
within the meaning of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860)
(2) Every person shall be legally bound to furnish information to such registering officer when
required by him to do so.
(3) In section 228 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860), the words "judicial pro-
ceeding" shall be deemed to include any proceeding under this Act. ,

PART XV
MISCELLANEOUS
85. Destruction of unclaimed documents:- Documents (other than wills) remaining un-
claimed in any registration office for a period exceeding two years may be destroyed.
86. Registering officer not liable for thing bonafide done or refused in his official ca-
pacity:- No registering officer shall be liable to any suit, claim or demand by reason of anything in
good faith done or refused in his official capacity.
87. Nothing so done invalidated by detect in appointment or procedure:- Nothing done

in good faith pursuant to this Act or any Act hereby repealed, by any registering officer, shall be
deemed invalid merely by reason of any defect in his appointment or procedure.
88. Registration of documents executed by Government officers or certain public

functionaries:-
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, it shall not be necessary for -
(a) any officer of Government, or
(b) any Administrator General, Official Trustee or Official Assignee, or
(c) The Sheriff, Receiver or Registrar of a High Court, or
(d) the holder for the time being such other public office as may be specified in a noti-
fication in the Official Gazette issued in that behalf by the State Government to appear in
person or by agent at any registration office in any proceeding connected with the registra-
tion of any instrument executed by him or in his favor in his official capacity, or to sign as
provided in section 58.
(2) Any instrument executed by or in favor of an officer of Government or any other person
referred to in sub-section (1) may be presented for registration in such manner as may be pre-
scribed by rules under section 69.
(3) The registering officer to whom any instrument is presented for registration under this
section may, if he thinks fit, refer to any Secretary to Government or to such officer of Government
or other person referred to in sub-section (1) for information respecting the same and, on being sa-
tisfied of the execution thereof, shall register the instrument.
89. Copies of certain orders, certificates and instruments to be sent to registering of-
ficers and filed:-
(1) Every officer granting a loan under the Land Improvement Loans Act, 1883 (XIX of 1883),
shall send a copy of his order to the registering officer within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the
whole or any part of the land to be improved or of the land to be granted as collateral security, is
situate, and such registering officer shall file the copy in his office.
(2) Every Court granting a certificate of sale of immovable property under the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908), shall send a copy of such certificate to the registering officer within the
local limits of whose jurisdiction the whole or any part of the immovable property comprised in such
certificate is situate, and such officer shall file the copy in his Book No. 1.
(3) Every officer granting a loan under the Agriculturist's Loans Act, 1884 (XII of 1884), shall
send a copy of any instrument whereby immovable property is mortgaged for the purpose of secur-
ing the repayment of the loan, and if any such property is mortgaged for the same purpose in the
order granting the loan, a copy also of that
order, to the registering officer within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the whole or any
part of the property so mortgaged is situate, and such registering officer shall file the copy or copies,
as the case may be, in his office.

(4) Every Revenue-officer granting a certificate of sale to the purchaser of immovable prop-
erty sold by public auction shall send a copy of the certificate to the registering officer within the lo-
cal limits of whose jurisdiction the whole or any part of the property comprised in the certificate is
situate, and such officer shall file the copy in his Book No. 1.
(5) Every Consolidation Officer passing an order:-
(i) under sub - section (1) of section 29 or sub - section (2) of section 29-A of the Bombay
Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947, or
(ii) under sub - section (1) of section 203 of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954,
or
(iii) under sub-section (1) of section 31 of the Hyderabad Prevention of Fragmentation and
Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1956, shall send a copy of such order to the registering officer within
the local limits of whose jurisdiction the whole or any part of the immovable property referred to in
such order is situate, and such registering officer shall file the copy in his Book No. 1.
(6) Every sale officer granting a certificate of sale under section 20 of the Central Provinces
and Berar Co - operative Land Mortgage Banks Act, 1937, shall send a copy of such certificate to
the registering officer within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the whole or any part of the immov-
able property comprised in such certificate is situate, and such registering officer shall file the copy
in his Book No. 1
(7) The Registering Officer to whom a memorandum under sub - sec. (7) of Section 18 sub -
section (1 - A) and (4) of section 22-C and section 28-A of Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 or a copy
of entry under S. 23 of that Act is sent shall file the same in his Book No. 1
* 89A. (1) Every Court passing.-
(a) any decree or order creating, declaring, transferring limiting or extinguishing any right, title or
interest to or in immovable property in favour of any person, or
(b) an order for interim attachment or attachment of immovable property or for the release of any
immovable property from such attachment.,
shall, in accordance with the rules made in this behalf, send a copy of such decree or order to-
gether with a memorandum describing the property as far as may be practicable, in the manner
required by section 21, to the registering officer within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the
whole or any part of the immovable property comprised in such decree or
order is situate, and such officer shall file the copy of the memorandum in his Book No. 1 :
Provided that, where the immovable property is situate within the local limits of the juris
diction of more than one registering officer, the procedure specified in clauses (a) and (b) of this
sub-section shall be followed in respect of the property within the jurisdiction of each of such offic-
ers.
(2) Every officer issuing a certificate of sale or a written demand before the attachment of the
immovable property of a defaulter under the provisions of any law relating to Revenue Recovery for
the time being in force including the Revenue Recovery Act, 1890, shall, -
(a) send a copy of such certificate of sale or written demand together with a memorandum
describing the property, as far as may be practicable, in the manner required by section
21 ;
(b) where such written demand is withdrawn or attachment of property is lifted or the proper-
ty sold and sale is confirmed, send a memorandum indicating that fact and describing
that property, as far as may be practicable, in the manner required by section 21, to the
registering officer within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the whole or any part of the
immovable property to which the written demand is situate, and such registering officer
shall file a copy of the written demand and the memorandum in his Book NO.1 :

Provided that, where the immovable property is situate within the local limits of the juris-
diction of more than one registering officer, the procedure specified in clauses (a) and (b) of this
sub-section shall be followed in respect of the property within the jurisdiction of each of such offic-
ers.
* 89 B. (1) Every person who has mortgaged immovable property by way of mortgage by deposit-
ing title deeds under clause (f) of section 58 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 shall, within thirty
days from the date of the mortgage, file a notice of intimation of his having so mortgaged the proper-
ty, giving details of his name and address, name and address of the mortgagee, date of mortgage,
amount received under the mortgage, rate of interest payable, list of documents deposited, and de-
scription of the immovable property in the manner required by section 21, to the registering officer
within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the whole or any part of the property is situate, and the
said officer shall file the same in his Book No. 1 :
Provided that, if the property so mortgaged falls within the jurisdiction of more than one regis-
tering officer, the procedure specified in this sub-section shall be followed in respect of the property
within the jurisdiction of each of such officers.
(2) If, the person who has mortgaged the property as aforesaid fails to file a notice within thirty
days as stated in sub-section (1) before the registering officer or officers, as the case may be, and
enters into any transaction in relation to or affecting the immovable property which is the subject
matter of the mortgage, with a third party ; such a transaction shall be void and the third party shall
be entitled to refund of any amount paid by him together with interest at twelve per cent from the
date of payment and also to compensation for any damages suffered by him, from the transferor.
( 3) The amount recoverable by such transferee as specified in sub-section (2) shall be a

charge on the interest of the mortgagor, in the mortgaged property :
Provided that, nothing in this section shall apply to the instruments of agreement relating to
mortgage by deposit of title deeds which are duly registered as per the provisions of this Act.
* 89 C. Any person who failed to file a notice under section 89B to the registering officer along
with fees, within the period specified in that section, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term
which shall not be less than one year but which may be for a term which may extend to three years
and shall also be liable to fine.
* 89 D. (1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for all
purposes connected with the filing of copies of documents referred to in section 89 A filing of notic-
es referred to in section 89B, in the appropriate book under this Act.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, such rules
may provide for, -
(a) the manner in which notices or true copies of documents shall be prepared ; and
(b) the manner of filing of the notices or true copies.
(3) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before
each House of the State Legislature, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days, which may
be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the
session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, both Houses agree in making any
modification in rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, and notify their decision
to that effect in the Official Gazette, the rule shall, from the date of publication of such decision in
the Official Gazette, have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be ;
so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of an-
ything previously done or omitted to be done under that rule ”.

Exemptions from Act
90. Exemption of certain documents executed by or in favour of Government:-
(1) Nothing contained in this Act or in the Indian Registration Act, 1877 (III of 1877), or in the
Indian Registration Act, 1877 (VIII of 1877), or in any Act thereby repealed, shall be deemed to re-
quire, or to have at any time required, the registration of any of the following documents or maps,
namely:-
(a) documents issued, received or attested by any officer engaged in making a settlement or
revision of settlement of land -revenue, and which form part of the records of such settlement; or
(b) documents and maps issued, received or authenticated by any officer engaged on behalf
of Government in making or revising the survey of any land, and which form part of the record of
such survey; or
(c) documents which, under any law for the time being in force, are filed periodically in any
revenue-office by patwaris or other officers charged with the preparation of village -records; or
(d) sanads, inam, title deeds and other documents purporting to be or to evidence grants or
assignments by Government of land or of any interest in land; or
(e) notices given under section 74 or section 76 of the Bombay Land Revenue Code, 1879
(Bombay 5 of 1879), of relinquishment of occupancy by occupants or alienated land by holders of
such land.
(2) All such documents and maps shall, for the purposes of sections 48 and 49, be deemed
to have been and to be registered in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
91. Inspection and copies of such documents:-

(1) Subject to such rules and the previous payment of such fees as the State Government
prescribes in this behalf, all documents and maps mentioned in section 90, clauses (a), (b), (c) and
(e), and all registers of the documents mentioned in clause (d), shall be open to the inspection of
any person applying to inspect the same, and, subject as aforesaid, copies of such documents shall
be given to all persons applying for such copies.
(2) Every rule prescribed under this sub-section or made under section 69 shall be laid, as
soon as it is made, before the State – Legislature.
92. (Burmese registration rules confirmed) Repealed by the Adaptation of Indian Laws Order
in Council.
Repeals
93. (Repeals) Repealed by the Repealing Act, 1938 (I of 1938), section 2 and schedule.
The Schedule – (Repeal of Enactments) Repealed by the Repealing Act, 1938 (I of 1938),
section 2 and schedule.

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What is the purpose of the Registration Act 1908?

What is the purpose of the Registration Act 1908?

What are the key definitions provided in the Act?

What are the key definitions provided in the Act?

THE

The Registration Act 1908 1

(As applicable in Maharashtra)

AN ACT TO CONSOLIDATE THE ENACTMENTS RELATING TO THE

WHEREAS it is expedien t to consolidate the enactments relating to the Registration of doc-

1. Short title, Extent and Commencement:-

(1) This Act may be called the Registration Act, 1908.

(7) "lease" includes a counterpart, Kabuliyat, an undertaking to cultivate or occupy, and an

The Registration Act 1908 2

OF THE REGISTRATION ESTABLISHMENT

3. Inspector- General of Registration:-

5. Districts and Sub-Districts:-

7. Offices of Registrar and Sub-Registrar:-

The Registration Act 1908 3

* The state amendment w.e.f. 1/4/2013.

8. Inspectors of Registration offices:–

(2) Every such Inspector shall be subordinate to the Inspector - General.

9. [Military cantonments may be declared sub–districts or districts.]

10. Absence of Registrar or Vacancy in his Office:-

14. Establishments of registering officers:-

The Registration Act 1908 4

16. Register- books and fire-proof boxes:-

16-A. Keeping of books in computer floppies and diskettes, etc.-

17. Documents of which registration is compulsory:-

(a) instruments of gift of immoveable property;

The Registration Act 1908 5

(i) any composition - deed; or

(vii) any grant of immovable property by the State Government ;or

(viii) any instrument of partition made by a Revenue - officer; or

The Registration Act 1908 6

* The state amendment w.e.f. 1/4/2013.

(f) all other documents not required by section 17 to be registered.

The Registration Act 1908 7

21. Description of property and maps or plans:-

(4) No non-testamentary documents containing a map or plan of property comprised therein

22. Description of houses and land by reference to Government maps or surveys:-

The Registration Act 1908 8

25. Provision where delay in presentation is unavoidable:-

(a) that the instrument was so executed, and

29. Place for registering other documents:-

The Registration Act 1908 9

(b) by the representative or assign of such person, or

33. Power-of-attorney recognizable for purposes of section 32:–

The Registration Act 1908 10

* The state amendment w.e.f. 1/4/2013.

(iii) persons exempt by law from personal appearance in Court.

34. Enquiry before registration:-

(2) Appearance under sub-section (1) may be simultaneous or at different times.

(3) The registering officer shall thereupon -

The Registration Act 1908 11

* The state amendment w.e.f. 1/4/2013.

(5) Nothing in this section applies to copies of decrees or orders.

35. Procedure on admission and denial of execution respectively:-

* Provided that, when such document is presented by electronic means, the

The Registration Act 1908 12

OF ENFORCING THE APPEARANCE OF EXECUTANTS AND WITNESSES