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Section 19: Documents in language not understood by registering officer

Registration Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

Statutory Regulation
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Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 1908
Section 18 All 93 Sections of Registration Act Section 20

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 19

Section 19 authorizes the registering officer to refuse registration of any document presented in a language not commonly used in the district unless accompanied by a true translation and a true copy.

  • Language Criterion: If any document presented for registration be in a language which the registering officer does not understand, and which is not commonly used in the district.
  • Mandatory True Translation: The officer shall refuse to register the document unless it be accompanied by a true translation into a language commonly used in the district and also by a true copy.
  • Verification of Translation: Translation must be verified and certified as accurate to ensure authentic public indexing and record-keeping.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • Ameen v. State of Kerala, 2022 SCC OnLine SC 1191: The Supreme Court recognized that Section 19 is a valid procedural safeguard ensuring that public records reflect intelligible, authentic property transactions.
  • State of Rajasthan v. Basant Nahata, (2005) 12 SCC 77: Affirmed that language rules prevent fraudulent execution in unreadable dialects.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

When executing a power of attorney or conveyance in English or a foreign language for registration in a regional sub-district, attach an authenticated local vernacular translation to avoid Section 19 refusal.

Section 18 All 93 Sections of Registration Act Section 20