P.Muppidathi alias Periya Muppidathi v. The Sub Registrar
Registration – Refusal Check Slip – Settlement Deed
Case brief
What is this about?
Madras High Court, Madurai Bench (D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, J.), W.P(MD)No.9905 of 2026, decided 08.04.2026: writ of certiorarified mandamus under Article 226 against a Refusal Check Slip (RFL/Sankarankovil/22/2026 dated 26.02.2026) issued by the Sub Registrar, Sankarankovil, Tenkasi District, refusing registration of a Settlement Deed. Refusal grounds: prior conveyance of the same property to Rajasekaran (Doc. No. 121 of 2022 dated 13.01.2022) and joint patta. Held: survey-number difference (S.No.2/4 vs S.No.2/5) not addressed by the respondent; a document cannot be refused or returned solely because the property is under a joint patta as far as extent is concerned. Refusal slip set aside; re-presentation directed; registration ordered if distinct-extent claim verified; no costs.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition allowed: (i) impugned refusal check slip dated 26.02.2026 set aside; (ii) petitioner to represent/re-present the document before the Sub Registrar; (iii) Sub Registrar to consider the difference in subdivision numbers (S.Nos.2/4 and 2/5) and register the document if the claim of two different extents is found correct; (iv) document cannot be returned on the ground that the patta is in joint names along with other co-owners; (v) no costs.