Madras High Court Declares Section 77-A of Registration Act Unconstitutional
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Judgment by Madras High Court | Declared Section 77-A of the Registration Act, 1908 unconstitutional. |
| Nature of Section 77-A | Introduced in 2022, allowed District Registrars to cancel property documents registered through fraud or forged records. |
| Reasons for Unconstitutionality | - Excessive quasi-judicial power to District Registrars.- Lack of judicial expertise in District Registrars.- Potential bias in disputes involving the government. |
| Implications of Judgment | - Protection of property rights.- Maintenance of judicial primacy. |
| Existing Provisions | Sections 22-A and 22-B of the Registration Act allow refusal of document registration. |
| Historical Context | Property disputes traditionally resolved by civil courts, not District Registrars. |
| Court's Key Observations | - Lack of finality in District Registrars' cancellations.- Registration Act aims to maintain public records, not decide property titles. |