A. James Devarajan v. the Joint Sub Registrar
Registration – Settlement deed – Refusal check slip – Section 22A(2), Registration Act, 1908
Case brief
What is this about?
Madras High Court dismissal of a certiorarified-mandamus writ petition against a Joint Sub-Registrar's refusal check slip; keywords: Section 22A(2) Registration Act 1908; refusal to register settlement deed dated 18.06.2025; unapproved layout formed prior to 20.10.2016 cut-off; layout promotor settling unsold plots on his wife; bar under S.22A(2) applies to transfers in any manner including sale, mortgage, release or settlement, not sales alone; lands converted as house sites without planning authority permission; remedy: re-present deed after obtaining approval; no costs; Joint Sub-Registrar, Ranipet.
What did the court decide?
On a reading of Section 22A(2) of the Registration Act, 1908, once a layout is formed, transfer of property in any manner - including sale, mortgage, release or settlement - requires approval from the concerned authorities; without such approval there is a clear bar under Section 22A(2).