Smt. Anitha Shanti Vaz v. Smt. Noothan Shetty
Stamp duty – Agreement relating to sale of immovable property – Article 5(e), Karnataka Stamp Act, 1957
Case brief
What is this about?
NC: 2026:KHC:14464 | W.P. No.2065/2024 (GM-CPC), High Court of Karnataka, decided 11.03.2026 (reserved 02.03.2026), Vijaykumar A. Patil J. | Challenge to order dated 06.12.2023 in O.S.No.229/2023 (Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, Moodbidri) upholding plaintiff's memo on stamp duty for agreement of sale dated 23.06.2018 (specific performance suit by respondent No.1). Core holding: Article 5(e)(i) Karnataka Stamp Act (conveyance duty via Article 20) requires delivery of possession, or agreement to deliver possession, in part performance under/before the conveyance; possession existing before the agreement, even if recited, is immaterial; duty and penalty under Article 5(e)(ii) upheld (original stamp Rs.200; duty plus ten-times penalty Rs.38,300 paid; consideration Rs.10,00,000). Section 17, Registration Act, 1908 argument raised by petitioner but not addressed. Relied on: Danappagouda Fakiragouda Patil (2006) 6 AIR (Kar)(R) 296; Vijay Kumar v. S.S.Ashoka; N.N.Manjappa; K.V.Venkatashubbaiah; M.R.N.Srinivasa; Vijay Kumar Goyal (SC) 2022 SCC Online SC 1237. Distinguished: Sri J.Prakash 2007 SCC Online KAR 490; Ramesh Mishrimal Jain 2025 SCC Online SC 329; C.K.Ravi Prasanna ILR 2007 KAR 2807; Ramegowda @ Chikkaramegowda W.P.No.11451/2020. Listed but not analysed: K.Amarnath; J.Ramappa; Smt.Krishnakumari. Result: petition rejected (mapped as dismissed); Trial Court order sustained.