The Registration Act, 1908

¹An Act to Consolidate the enactments relating to the Registration of Documents. WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate the enactments relating to the registration of documents; It is hereby enacted as follows:-

Section 1. Short title, extent and commencement

(1) This Act may be called the Registration Act, 1908.

(2) It extends to the whole of Bangladesh, except such districts or tracts of country as the Government may exclude from its operation.

(3) It shall come into force on the first day of January, 1909.

Section 2. Definitions

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,

(1) “addition” means the place of residence, and the profession, trade, rank and title (if any) of a person described, and his father's name, or where he is usually described as the son of his mother, then his mother's name:

(2) “book” includes a portion of a book and also any number of sheets connected together with a view of forming a book or portion of a book:

²(2a) “co-operative society” means a co-operative society registered under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912, or under any other law for the time being in force relating to the registration of co-operative societies.

(3) “district” and “sub-district” respectively mean a district and sub-district formed under this Act:

(4) “District Court” includes the ³High Court Division in its ordinary original civil jurisdiction:

(5) “endorsement” and “endorsed” include and apply to an entry in writing by a registering officer on a rider or covering slip to any document tendered for registration under this Act:

(6) “immoveable property” includes land, buildings, benefits to arise out of land and things attached to the earth, or permanently fastened to anything attached to the earth, hereditary allowances, rights to ways, lights, ferries and fisheries but does not include

(7) “lease” includes a counter-part, kabuliyat and an undertaking to cultivate or occupy:

(8) “minor” means a person who, according to the personal law to which he is subject, has not attained majority:

(9) “moveable property” means property of every description, except immoveable property:

(10) “representative” includes the guardian of a minor and the committee or other legal curator of a lunatic or idiot: and

(11) “tout' means a person

Section 3. Inspector-General of Registration

(1) The Government shall appoint an officer to be the Inspector-General of Registration for ⁴Bangladesh:

Provided that the Government may, instead of making such appointment, direct that all or any of the powers and duties hereinafter conferred and imposed upon the Inspector-General shall be exercised and performed by such officer or officers, and within such local limits, as the Government appoints in this behalf.

(2) Any Inspector-General may hold simultaneously any other office in the service of the ⁵Republic.

Section 4. [Repealed]

[Repealed by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.]

Section 5. Districts and sub-districts

(1) For the purposes of this Act, the Government shall form districts and sub-districts, and shall prescribe, and may alter, the limits of such districts and sub-districts.

(2) The districts and sub-districts formed under this section, together with the limits thereof, and every alteration of such limits shall be notified in the official Gazette.

(3) Every such alteration shall take effect on such day after the date of the notification as is therein mentioned.

Section 6. Registrars and Sub-Registrars

The Government may appoint such persons, whether public officers or not, as it thinks proper, to be Registrars of the several districts, and to be Sub-Registrars of the several sub-districts, formed as aforesaid, respectively.

Section 7. Offices of Registrar and Sub-Registrar

(1) Government shall establish in every district an office to be styled the office of the Registrar and in every sub-district an office or offices to be styled the office of the Sub-Registrar or the offices of the Joint Sub-Registrars.

(2) The Government may amalgamate with any office of a Registrar any office of a Sub-Registrar subordinate to such Registrar, and may authorize any Sub-Registrar whose office has been so amalgamated to exercise and perform, in addition to his own powers and duties, all or any of the powers and duties of the Registrar to whom he is subordinate:

Provided that no such authorization shall enable a Sub-Registrar to hear an appeal against an order passed by himself under this Act.

Section 8. Inspectors of Registration-offices

(1) The Government may also appoint officers, to be called inspectors of Registration-offices, and may prescribe the duties of such officers.

(2) Every such Inspector shall be subordinate to the Inspector-General.

Section 9. [Repealed]

[Repealed by section 3 and 2nd Schedule of the Repealing and Amending Act, 1927 (Act No. X of 1927).]

Section 10. Absence of Registrar or vacancy in his office

(1) When any Registrar, is absent otherwise than on duty in his district, or when his office is temporarily vacant, any person whom the Inspector-General appoints in this behalf, or, in default of such appointment, the Judge of the District Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the Registrar's office is situate, shall be the Registrar during such absence or until the Government fills up the vacancy.

(2) [Omitted by the Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordinance Order, 1949.]

Section 11. Absence of Registrar on duty in his district

When any Registrar is absent from his office on duty in his district, he may appoint any Sub-Registrar or other person in his district to perform, during such absence, all the duties of a Registrar except those mentioned in sections 68 and 72.

Section 12. Absence of Sub-Registrar or vacancy in his office

When any Sub-Registrar is absent, or when his office is temporarily vacant, any person whom the Registrar of the district appoints in this behalf shall be Sub-Registrar during such absence, or until the vacancy is filled up.

Section 13. Report to Government of appointments under sections 10, 11 and 12

(1) All appointments made under section 10, section 11 or section 12 shall be reported to the Government by the Inspector-General.

(2) Such report shall be either special or general, as the Government directs.

Section 14. Establishments of registering officers

(1) [Omitted by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.]

(2) The Government may allow proper establishments for the several offices under this Act.

Section 15. Seal of registering officers

The several Registrars and Sub-Registrars shall use a seal bearing the following inscription in English and ⁶Bengali:-

“The seal of the Registrar (or of the Sub-Registrar)

of .”

Section 16. Register-books and fire-proof boxes

(1) The Government shall provide for the office of every registering officer the books necessary for the purposes of this Act.

(2) The books so provided shall contain the forms from time to time prescribed by the Inspector-General with the sanction of the Government, and the pages of such books shall be consecutively numbered in print, and the number of pages in each book shall be certified on the title-page by the officer by whom such books are issued.

(3) The Government shall supply the office of every Registrar with a fire-proof box, and shall in each district make suitable provision for the safe custody of the records connected with the registration of documents in such district.

Section 17. Documents of which registration is compulsory

(1) The following documents shall be registered, if the property to which they relate is situate in a district in which, and if they have been executed on or after the date on which, ⁷* * * this Act came or comes into force, namely:-

⁸(aa) declaration of heba under the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat);

⁹(aaa) declaration of gift under the Hindu, Christian and Buddhist Personal Law;

Explanation − In the case of an assignment of a mortgage the consideration for the deed of assignment shall be deemed to be the value for registration.

¹¹(cc) instrument of mortgage referred to in section 59 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882;

¹³(f) instrument of partition of immovable property effected by persons upon inheritance according to their respective personal laws;

Provided that the Government may, by order published in the official Gazette, exempt from the operation of this sub-section any leases executed in any district, or part of a district, the terms granted by which do not exceed five years and the annual rents reserved by which do not exceed fifty taka.

(2) Nothing in clauses (b) and (c) of sub-section (1) applies to-

(xiii)any counter-part of a lease, where the lease corresponding thereto has itself been registered.

¹⁵* * *

(3) Authorities to adopt a son, executed after the first day of January 1872, and not conferred by a will, shall also be registered.

Registration of contract for sale, etc.

¹⁶17A. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force, a contract for sale of any immovable property shall be in writing, executed by the parties thereto and registered.

(2) A contract for sale referred to in sub-section (1) shall be presented for registration within ¹⁷sixty days from the date of execution of the contract and the provisions regarding registration of instruments shall apply.

Section 17B. Effect of unregistered contract for sale executed prior to section 17A becomes effective

(1) Where a contract for sale of immovable property is executed but not registered prior to coming into force of section 17A-

failing which the contract shall stand void.

(2) The provision of sub-section (1) shall not apply to any contract for sale of immovable property on the basis of which a suit has been instituted in a civil court before coming into force of section 17A.]

Section 18. Documents of which registration is optional

Any document not required to be registered under section 17 may also be registered under this Act.

Section 19. Documents in language not understood by registering officer

If any document duly presented for registration be in a language which the registering officer does not understand, and which is not commonly used in the district, he 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.

Section 20. Documents containing interlineations, blanks erasures or alterations

(1) The registering officer may in his discretion refuse to accept for registration any document in which any interlineations, blank, erasure or alteration appears, unless the persons executing the document attest with their signatures or initials such interlineations, blank, erasure or alteration.

(2) If the registering officer registers any such document, he shall, at the time of registering the same, make a note in the register of such interlineation, blank, erasure or alteration.

Section 21. Description of property and maps or plans

(1) No non-testamentary document relating to immoveable property shall be accepted for registration unless it contains a description of such property sufficient to identify the same.

(2) Houses in towns shall be described as situate on the north or other side of the street or road (which should be specified) to which they front, and by their existing and former occupancies, and by their numbers if the houses in such street or road are numbered.

(3) Other houses and lands shall be described by their name, if any, and as being in the territorial division in which they are situate, and by their superficial contents, the roads and other properties on which they abut, and their existing occupancies, and also, whenever it is practicable, by reference to a Government map or survey.

(4) No non-testamentary document containing a map or plan of any property comprised therein shall be accepted for registration unless it is accompanied by a true copy of the map or plan, or, in case such property is situate in several districts, by such number of true copies of the map or plan as are equal to the number of such districts.

Section 22. Description of houses and land by reference to Government maps or surveys

(1) Where it is, in the opinion of the Government, practicable to describe houses, not being houses in towns, and lands by reference to a Government map or survey, the Government may, by rule made under this Act, require that such houses and lands as aforesaid shall, for the purposes of section 21, be so described.

(2) Save as otherwise provided by any rule made under subsection (1), failure to comply with the provisions of section 21, sub-section (2) or sub-section (3), shall not disentitle a document to be registered if the description of the property to which it relates is sufficient to identify that property.

Instrument of transfer

¹⁸22A. (1) Every instrument of transfer required to be compulsorily registered under this Act shall contain the particulars necessary to convey the intention of the parties, complete description of the properties to be transferred and nature of the transaction.

(2) Photographs of both the executant and the recipient shall be pasted on every instrument and the parties shall sign and put their left thumb impressions across their photographs in the instrument¹⁹: Provided that if any party is incapable of signing, he shall not be required to sign.

(3) The government shall, within three months of coming into force of the Registration (Amendment) Act, 2004 by notification in the official Gazette, prescribe a format for the purposes of this section.

Section 23. Time for presenting documents

Subject to the provisions contained in sections 24, 25 and 26, no document other than a will shall be accepted for registration unless presented for that purpose to the proper officer within ²⁰three months from the date of its execution:

Provided that a copy of a decree or order may be presented within ²¹three months from the day on which the decree or order was made, or, where it is appealable, within ²²three months from the day on which it becomes final.

Re-registration of certain documents

²³23A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, if in any case a document requiring registration has been accepted for registration by a Registrar or Sub-Registrar from a person not duly empowered to present the same, and has been registered, any person claiming under such document may, within four months from this first becoming aware that the registration of such document is invalid, present such document or cause the same to be presented, in accordance with the provisions of Part VI for re-registration in the office of the Registrar of the district in which the document was originally registered; and upon the Registrar being satisfied that the document was so accepted for registration from a person not duly empowered to present the same, he shall proceed to the re-registration of the document as if it had not been previously registered, and as if such presentation for re-registration was a presentation for registration made within the time allowed therefor under Part IV, and all the provisions of this Act, as to registration of documents, shall apply to such re-registration; and such document, if duly re-registered in accordance with the provisions of this section, shall be deemed to have been duly registered for all purposes from the date of its original registration:

Provided that, within three months from the twelfth day of September, 1917, any person claiming under a document to which this section applies may present the same or cause the same to be presented for re-registration in accordance with this section, whatever may have been the time when he first became aware that the registration of the document was invalid.

Section 24. Documents executed by several persons at different times

Where there are several persons executing a document at different times, such document may be presented for registration and re-registration within four months from the date of each execution.

Section 25. Provision where delay in presentation is unavoidable

(1) If, owing to urgent necessity or unavoidable accident, any document executed, or copy of a decree or order made, in Bangladesh is not presented for registration till after the expiration of the time hereinbefore prescribed in that behalf, the Registrar, in cases where the delay in presentation does not exceed four months, may direct that, on payment of a fine not exceeding ten times the amount of the proper registration-fee, such document shall be accepted for registration.

(2) Any application for such direction may be lodged with a Sub-Registrar, who shall forthwith forward it to the Registrar to whom he is subordinate.

Section 26. Documents executed out of Bangladesh

When a document purporting to have been executed by all or any of the parties out of Bangladesh is not presented for registration will after the expiration of the time hereinbefore prescribed in that behalf, the registering officer, if satisfied-

may, on payment of the proper registration ²⁵fees, taxes, service charges or duties, whichever is applicable, accept such document for registration.

Section 27. Wills may be presented or deposited at any time

A will may at any time be presented for registration or deposited in manner hereinafter provided.

Section 28. Place for registering documents relating to land

(1) Save as in this Part otherwise provided, every document mentioned in section 17, sub-section (1), clause (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e), section 17, sub-section (2), and section 18, in so far as such documents affects immoveable property shall be presented for registration in the office of a Sub-Registrar within whose sub-district the whole or ²⁶major portion of the property to which such document relates is situate ²⁷:

Provided that where the major portion of such property is not situate within one sub-district the document shall be presented for registration in the office of the Sub-Registrar within whose sub-district any portion of such property is situate.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1),-

Section 29. Place for registering other documents

(1) Every document not being a document referred to in section 28 or a copy of a decree or order, may be presented for registration either in the office of the Sub-Registrar in whose sub-district the document was executed, or in the office of any other Sub-Registrar under the Government at which all the persons executing and claiming under the document desire the same to be registered.

(2) A copy of a decree or order may be presented for registration in the office of the Sub-Registrar in whose sub-district the original decree or order was made, or, where the decree or order does not affect immoveable property, in the office of any other Sub-Registrar under the Government at which all the persons claiming under the decree or order desire the copy to be registered.

Section 30. [Omitted]

[Omitted by section 3 of the Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 1985 (Ordinance No. L of 1985).]

Section 31. Registration or acceptance for deposit at private residence

The presentation, registration or deposit of documents under this Act shall ordinarily be made only at the office of the officer authorized to accept the same for registration or deposit:

Provided that such officer may on special cause being shown attend at the residence of any person desiring to present a document for registration or to deposit a will, and accept for registration or deposit such document or will.

Section 32. Persons to present documents for registration

Except in the cases mentioned in section 89, every document to be registered under this Act, whether such registration be compulsory or optional, shall be presented,-

Section 33. Power-of-attorney recognizable for purposes of section 32

(1) For the purposes of section 32, the following powers-of-attorney shall alone be recognized, namely:-

Provided that the following persons shall not be required to attend at any registration-office or Court for the purpose executing any such power-of-attorney as is mentioned in clauses (a) and (b) of this section, namely:-

(2) In the case of every such person the Registrar or Sub-Registrar or Magistrate, as the case may be, if satisfied that the power-of-attorney has been voluntarily executed by the person purporting to be the principal, may attest the same without requiring his personal attendance at the office or Court aforesaid.

(3) To obtain evidence as to the voluntary nature of the execution, the Registrar or Sub-Registrar or Magistrate may either himself go to the house of the person purporting to be the principal, or to the jail in which he is confined, and examine him, or issue a commission for his examination.

(4) Any power-of-attorney mentioned in this section may be proved by the production of it without further proof when it purports on the face of it to have been executed before and authenticated by the person or Court hereinbefore mentioned in that behalf.

Section 34. Enquiry before registration by registering officer

(1) Subject to the provisions contained in this Part and in sections 41, 43, 45, 69, 75, 77, 88 and 89, no document shall be registered under this Act, unless the persons executing such document, or their representatives, assigns or agents authorized as aforesaid, appear before the registering officer within the time allowed for presentation under sections 23, 24, 25 and 26:

Provided that, if owing to urgent necessity or unavoidable accident all such persons do not so appear, the Registrar, in cases where the delay in appearing does not exceed four months, may direct that on payment of a fine not exceeding ten times the amount of the proper registration fee, in addition to the fine, if any, payable under section 25, the document may be registered.

(2) Appearances under sub-section (1) may be simultaneous or at different times.

(3) The registering officer shall thereupon-

(4) Any application for a direction under the proviso to sub-section (1) may be lodged with a Sub-Registrar, who shall forthwith forward it to the Registrar to whom he is sub-ordinate.

(5) Nothing in this section applies to copies of decrees or orders.

Section 35. Procedure on admission and denial of execution respectively

(1) (a) If all the persons executing the document appear personally before the registering officer and are personally known to him, or if he be otherwise satisfied that they are the persons they represent themselves to be, and if they all admit the execution of the document, or

the registering officer shall register the document as directed in sections 58 to 61, inclusive.

(2) the registering officer may, in order to satisfy himself that the persons appearing before him are the persons they represent themselves to be, or for any other purpose contemplated by this Act, examine any one present in his office.

(3) (a) If any person by whom the document purports to be executed denies its execution, or

Provided that, where such officer is a Registrar, he shall follow the procedure prescribed in Part XII:

Provided further that the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare that any Sub-Registrar named in the notification shall, in respect of documents the execution of which is denied, by deemed to be a Registrar for the purposes of this sub-section and of Part XII.

Section 36. Procedure where appearance of executant or witness is desired

If any person presenting any document for registration or claiming under any document, which is capable of being so presented, desires the appearance of any person whose presence or testimony is necessary for the registration of such document, the registering officer may, in his discretion call upon such officer or Court as the Government directs in this behalf to issue a summons requiring him to appear at the registration-office, either in person or by duly authorized agent, as in the summons may be mentioned, and at a time named therein.

Section 37. Officer or Court to issue and cause service of summons

The officer or Court, upon receipt of the peon's fee payable in such cases, shall issue the summons accordingly, and cause it to be served upon the person whose appearance is so required.

Section 38. Persons exempt from appearance at registration-office

(1) (a) A person who by reason of bodily infirmity is unable without risk or serious inconvenience to appear at the registration-office, or

shall not be required so to appear.

(2) In the case of every such person the registering officer shall either himself go to the house of such person, or to the jail in which he is confined, and examine him or issue a commission for his examination.

Section 39. Law as to summonses, commissions and witnesses

The law in force for the time being as to summonses, commissions and compelling the attendance of witnesses, and for their remuneration in suits before Civil Courts, shall, save as aforesaid and mutatis mutandis, apply to any summons or commission issued and any person summoned to appear under the provisions of this Act.

Section 40. Persons entitled to present Wills and authorities to adopt

(1) The testator, or after his death any person claiming as executor or otherwise under a will, may present it to any Registrar or Sub-Registrar for registration.

(2) The donor, or after his death the donee, of any authority to adopt, or the adoptive son, may present it to any registrar or Sub-Registrar for registration.

Section 41. Registration of wills and authorities to adopt

(1) A will or an authority to adopt, presented for registration by the testator or donor, may be registered in the same manner as any other document.

(2) A will or authority to adopt presented for registration by any other person entitled to present it shall be registered if the registering officer is satisfied-

Section 42. Deposit of wills

(1) Any testator may, either personally or by duly authorized agent, deposit with any Registrar his will in a sealed cover super scribed with the name of the testator and that of his agent (if any) and with a statement of the nature of the document.

(2) The testator shall also endorse on the cover the name and address of the person to whom the original document shall be delivered after registration thereof, after his death.

Section 43. Procedure on deposit of wills

(1) On receiving such cover, the Registrar, if satisfied that the person presenting the same for deposit is the testator or his agent, shall transcribe in his Register-book No. 5 the superscription aforesaid, and shall note in the same book and on the said cover the year, month, day and hour of such presentation and receipt, and the names of any persons who may testify to the identity of the testator or his agent, and any legible inscription which may be on the seal of the cover.

(2) The Registrar shall then place and retain the sealed cover in his fire-proof box.

Section 44. Withdrawal of sealed cover deposited under section 42

If the testator who has deposited such cover wishes to withdraw it, he may apply, either personally or by duly authorized agent, to the Registrar who holds it in deposit, and such Registrar, if satisfied that the applicant is actually the testator or his agent, shall deliver the cover accordingly.

Section 45. Proceedings on death of depositor

(1) If, on the death of a testator who has deposited a sealed cover under section 42, application be made to the Registrar who holds it in deposit to open the same, and if the Registrar is satisfied that the testator is dead, he shall, in the applicant's presence, upon the cover, and, at the applicant's expense, cause the contents thereof to be copied in to his book No. 3 and then deliver the deposited will to the nominee of the testator or his representative.

(2) If, in respect of any will deposited no steps are taken by the testator or other person under section 44 or sub-section (1) of this section, the Registrar shall follow the procedure hereinafter provided for the disposal of such will or sealed cover.

Section 46. Saving of certain enactments and powers of Courts

(1) Nothing hereinbefore contained shall affect the provisions of ²⁸the Succession Act, 1925, or the power of any Court by order to compel the production of any will.

(2) When any such order is made, the Registrar shall, unless the will has been already copied under section 45, open the cover and cause the will to be copied in to his Book No. 3 and make a note on such copy that the original has been removed into Court in pursuance of the order aforesaid.

Destruction of Wills

²⁹46A. (1) Any will in deposit with a Registrar at the commencement of the Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 1962, and any will thereafter deposited may be destroyed after following the procedure hereinafter provided, if the will is not registered before such destruction.

(2) Every registering officer shall on the first day of July in the year next after the commencement of the Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 1962, and on the first day of July in every succeeding third year, send by post a notice to every depositor and his nominee, inquiring about the depositor's present address and shall enter on the cover and in his registers any new address supplied in response to such notice.

(3) If, as a result of such notice or in any other manner, the Registrar is satisfied that the testator has died, the Registrar shall, after making an entry in his books as to the death of the testator and the nature of the information on which he has acted, open the cover in the presence of a judicial officer (not below the rank of ³⁰* * * [Assistant Judge. He shall thereupon issue a notice to the executor, if any, and also to such other person or persons deriving any benefit under the will as the two officers may determine, informing them about the existence of the will and also that unless steps are taken within a period of six months therefrom for registration of the will the document shall be liable to be destroyed.

(4) Notwithstanding the expiry of the period specified in the notice, until the will is actually destroyed in accordance with the provision of the Destruction of Records Act, 1917, the registration of the same can be effected, at the request of the person entitled thereto, on payment of the proper charges.]

Section 47. Time from which registered document operates

A registered document shall operate from the time which it would have commenced to operate if no registration thereof had been required or made, and not from the time of its registration.

Section 48. Registered documents relating to property when to take effect against oral agreements

All non-testamentary documents duly registered under this Act, and relating to any property, whether moveable or immoveable shall take effect against any oral agreement or declaration relating to such property, unless where the agreement or declaration has been accompanied or followed by delivery of possession and the same constitutes a valid transfer under any law for the time being in force:

Provided that a mortgage by deposit or title-deeds as defined in section 58 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, shall take effect against any mortgage-deed subsequently executed and registered which relate to the same property.

Section 49. Effect of non-registration of documents required to be registered

No document required to be registered under this Act or under any earlier law providing for or relating to registration of documents shall-

unless it has been registered.

Section 50. Certain registered documents relating to land to take effect against unregistered documents

(1) Every document of the kinds mentioned in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of section 17, sub-section (1), and every document registrable under section 18, in so far as such document affects immoveable property or acknowledges the receipt or payment of any consideration in respect of any transaction relating to immoveable property, shall, if duly registered, take effect as regards the property comprised therein, against every unregistered document relating to the same property, and not being a decree or order, whether such unregistered document be of the same nature as the registered document or not:

Provided that the person in possession of the property under an unregistered document prior in date, would be entitled to the rights under section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 if the conditions of that section are fulfilled:

Provided further that the person in whose favour an unregistered document is executed shall be entitled to enforce the contract under the unregistered document in suit for specific performance against a person claiming under a subsequent registered document, subject to the provisions of clause (b) of section 27 of the Specific Relief Act, 1877.

(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) applies to leases exempted under the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 17 or to any document mentioned in sub-section (2) of the same section, or to any registered document which had not priority under the law in force at the commencement of this Act.

Explanation - [Omitted by section 3 and 2nd Schedule of the Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973 (Act No. VIII of 1973).]

Section 51. Register-books to be kept in the several offices

(1) The following books shall be kept in the several offices hereinafter named, namely:-

A-In all registration offices-

Book 1, “Register of on-testamentary documents relating to immoveable property”;

Book 2, “Record of reasons for refusal to register”;

Book 3, “Register of wills and authorities to adopt”; and

Book 4, “Miscellaneous Register”;

B-In the offices of Registrars-

Book 5, Register of deposits of wills.”

(2) In Book 1 shall be entered or filed all documents or memoranda registered under sections 17, 18 and 89 which relate to immoveable property, and are not wills.

(3) In Book 4 shall be entered all documents registered under section 18 which do not relate to immoveable property.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to require more than one set of books where the office of the Registrar has been amalgamated with the office of a Sub-Registrar.

(5) If, in the opinion of the Registrar, any of the books mentioned in sub-section (1) is in danger of being destroyed or becoming illegible wholly partially, the Registrar may, by a written order, direct such book or portion thereof as he thinks fit, to be recopied and authenticated in such manner as may be prescribed by rules, and the copy prepared and authenticated under such direction shall, for all purposes of this Act and of the Evidence Act, 1872, be deemed to be the original book or portion and all references in this Act to the original book shall be deemed to be to the book or portion so recopied and authenticated.

Section 52. Duties of registering officers when document presented

(1) (a) The day, hour and place of presentation, and the signature of every person presenting a document for registration, shall be endorsed on every such document at the time of presenting it;

(2) All such books shall be authenticated at such intervals and in such manner as is from time to time prescribed by the inspector-General.

Registering Officer not to register unless certain particulars are included in an instrument of sale

³¹52A. Upon presentation of an instrument of sale ³²or of gift or declaration of heba under the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) or declaration of gift under the Hindu, Christian and Buddhist Personal Law of any immovable property, the Registering Officer shall not register the instrument unless the following particulars are included in and attached with the instrument, namely-

Section 53. Entries to be numbered consecutively

All entries in each book shall be numbered in a consecutive series, which shall commence and terminate with the year, a fresh series being commenced at the beginning of each year.

Section 54. Current indexes and entries therein

In every office in which any of the books hereinbefore mentioned are kept, there shall be prepared current indexes of the contents of such books; and every entry in such indexes shall be made, so far as practicable, immediately after the registering officer has copied, on field a memorandum of, the document to which it relates.

Section 55. Indexes to be made by registering officers, and their contents

(1) Four such indexes shall be made in all registration-offices, and shall be named, respectively, Index No. I, Index No. II, Index No. III and Index No. IV.

(2) Index No. I shall contain the names and additions of all persons executing and of all persons claiming under every document entered or memorandum filed in Book No. 1.

(3) Index No. II shall contain such particulars mentioned in section 21 relating to every such document and memorandum as the Inspector-General from time to time directs in that behalf.

(4) Index No. III shall contain the names and additions of all persons executing every will and authority entered in Book No. 3, and of the executors and persons respectively appointed thereunder, and after the death of the testator or the donor (but not before) the names and additions of all persons claiming under the same.

(5) Index No. IV shall contain the name and additions of all persons executing and of all persons claiming under every document entered in Book No. 4.

(6) Each Index shall contain such other particulars, and shall be prepared in such form, as the Inspector-General from time to time directs.

(7) If, in the opinion of the Registrar, any of the indexes mentioned in sub-section (1) is in danger of being destroyed or becoming illegible wholly or partially, the Registrar may, by a written order, direct such index or portion thereof, as he thinks fit, to be recopied in such manner as may be prescribed by rules, and any copy so prepared shall, for the purposes of this Act and of the Evidence Act, 1872, be deemed to be the original index or portion and all references in this Act to the original index or portion shall be deemed to be references, to the index or portion prepared as aforesaid.

Section 56. [Repealed]

[Repealed by section 2 of the Indian Registration (Amendment) Act, 1929 (Act No. XV of 1929).]

Section 57. Registering officers to allow inspection of certain books and indexes, and to give certified copies of entries

(1) Subject to the previous payment of the fees payable in that behalf, the Books Nos. 1 and 2 and the Indexes relating to Book No. 1 shall be at all time open to inspection by any person applying to inspect the same; and, subject to the provisions of section 62, copies of entries in such books shall be given to all persons applying for such copies.

(2) Subject to the same provisions, copies of entries in Book No. 3 and in the Index relating thereto shall be given to the persons executing the documents to which such entries relate, or to their agents, and after the death of the executants (but not before) to any person applying for such copies.

(3) Subject to the same provision, copies of entries in Book No. 4 and in the Index relating thereto shall be given to any person executing or claiming under the documents to which such entries respectively refer, or to his agent or representative.

(4) The requisite search under this section for entries in Books Nos. 3 and 4 shall be made only by the registering officer.

(5) All copies given under this section shall for entries in Books Nos. 3 and 4 shall be made only by the registering officer.

Section 58. Particulars to be endorsed on document admitted to registration

(1) On every document admitted to registration, other than a copy of a decree or order, or a copy sent to a registering officer under section 89, there shall be endorsed from time to time the following particulars namely:-

(2) If any person admitting the execution of a document refuses to endorse the same, the registering officer shall nevertheless register it, but shall at the same time endorse a note of such refusal.

Section 59. Endorsements to be dated and signed by registering officer

The registering officer shall affix the date and his signature to all endorsements made under sections 52 and 58, relating to the same document and made in his presence on the same day.

Section 60. Certificate of registration

(1) After such of the provisions of sections 34, 35, 58 and 59 as apply to any document presented for registration have been complied with, the registering officer shall endorse thereon a certificate containing the word “registered,” together with the number and page of the book in which the document has been copied.

(2) Such certificate shall be signed, sealed and dated by the registering officer, and shall then be admissible for the purpose of proving that the document has been duly registered in manner provided by this Act, and that the facts mentioned in the endorsements referred to in section 59 have occurred as therein mentioned.

Section 61. Endorsements and certificate to be copied and document returned

(1) The endorsements and certificate referred to and mentioned in section 59 and 60 shall thereupon be copied into the margin of the Register-book, and the copy of the map or plan (if any) mentioned in section 21 shall be filed in Book No. 1.

(2) The registration of the document shall thereupon be deemed complete, and the document shall then be returned to the person who presented the same for registration, or to such other person (if any) as he has nominated in writing in that behalf on the receipt mentioned in section 52.

Section 62. Procedure on presenting document in language unknown to registering officer

(1) When a document is presented for registration under section 19, the translation shall be transcribed in the register of documents of the nature of the original, and, together with the copy referred to in section 19, shall be filed in the registration office.

(2) The endorsements and certificate respectively mention-ed in sections 59 and 60 shall be made on the original, and, for the purpose of making the copies and memoranda required by sections 57, 64, 65 and 66, the translation shall be treated as if it were the original.

Section 63. Power to administer oaths and record of substance of statements

(1) Every registering officer may at his discretion administer an oath to any person examined by him under the provisions of this Act.

(2) Every such officer may also at his discretion record a note of the substance of the statement made by each such person, and such statement shall be read over, or (if made in a language with which such person is not acquainted) interpreted to him in a language with which he is acquainted, and, if he admits the correctness of such note, it shall be signed by the registering officer.

(3) Every such note so signed shall be admissible for the purpose of proving that the statements therein recorded were made by the persons and under the circumstances therein stated.

Section 63A. Procedure where documents not properly valued.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, where it appears to the registering officer that the value of any document presented for registration is less than the market value determined in the policy made under section 69, the registering officer shall, for the purpose of realising proper duties and other fees, require the presentant to submit the duties and fees so required and after realising such duties and fees, he shall register the said document.

(2) Where it is found upon inspection or otherwise that by non-compliance of the provision of sub-section (1), a document has been registered by a registering officer with improper duties and fees, such non-compliance of the said registering officer shall be deemed to be misconduct and the unpaid amount of duties and fees shall be realised from the concerned registering officer.]

Section 64. Procedure where document relates to land in several sub-districts

Every Sub-Registrar on registering a non-testamentary document relating to immoveable property not wholly situate in his own sub-district shall make a memorandum thereof and of the endorsement and certificate (if any) thereon, and send the same to every other Sub-Registrar subordinate to the same Registrar as himself in whose sub-district any part of such property in situate, and such Sub-Registrar shall file the memorandum in his Book No. 1.

Section 65. Procedure where document relates to land in several districts

(1) Every Sub-Registrar on registering a non-testamentary document relating to immoveable property situate in more districts than one shall also forward a copy thereof and of the endorsement and certificate (if any) thereon, together with a copy of the map or plan (if any) mentioned in section 21, to the Registrar of every district in which any part of such property is situate other than the district in which his own sub-district is situate.

(2) The Registrar on receiving the same shall file in his Book No. 1 the copy of the document and the copy of the map or plan (if any), and shall forward a memorandum of the document to each of the Sub-registrars subordinate to him within whose sub-district any part of such property is situate: and every Sub-Registrar receiving such memorandum shall file it in his Book No. 1.

Section 66. Procedure after registration of documents relating to land

(1) On registering any non-testamentary document relating to immoveable property the Registrar shall forward a memorandum of such document to each Sub-Registrar subordinate to himself in whose sub-district any part of the property is situate.

(2) The Registrar shall also forward a copy of such document, together with a copy of the map or plan (if any) mentioned in section 21, to every other Registrar in whose district any part of such property is situate.

(3) Such Registrar on receiving any such copy shall file it in his Book No. 1, and shall also send a memorandum of the copy to each of the Sub-Registrars subordinate to him within whose sub-district any part of the property is situate.

(4) Every Sub-Registrar receiving any memorandum under this section shall file it in his Book No. 1.

Section 67. Omitted

[Omitted by section 3 of the Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 1985 (Ordinance No. L of 1985).]

Section 68. Power of Registrar to superintend and control Sub-Registrars

(1) Every Sub-Registrar shall perform the duties of his office under the superintendence and control of the Registrar in whose district the office of such Sub-Registrar is situate.

(2) Every Registrar shall have authority to issue (whether on compliant or otherwise) any order consistent with this Act which he considers necessary in respect of any act or omission of any Sub-Registrar subordinate to him or in respect of the rectification of any error regarding the book or the office in which any document has been registered.

³⁵(3) Where it is found upon inspection or otherwise that a document has been registered by a Registering Officer with improper fees, taxes, service charges or duties, it shall be deemed to be a misconduct and the unpaid amount of fees, taxes, service charges or duties shall be realized from the concerned Registering Officer ³⁶:

"Provided that, if in so registering a document, the Registering Officer acted in good faith, the unpaid amount of fees, taxes, service charges or duties shall be realized from the parties to the document by whom those amounts were payable.

Section 69. Power of Inspector-General to superintend registration offices and make rules

(1) The Inspector-General shall exercise a general superintendence over all the registration offices in ³⁷Bangladesh and shall have power from time to time to make rules consistent with this Act

(2) The rules so made shall be submitted to the Government for approval, and, after they have been approved, they shall be published in the official Gazette, and on publication shall have effect as if enacted in this Act.

Section 70. Power of Inspector-General to remit fines

The Inspector-General may also, in the exercise of his discretion, remit wholly or in part the difference between any fine levied under section 25 or section 34, and the amount of the proper registration fee.

Application of this Part

[New PART XI-A was inserted by section 17 of the Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 1962 (Ordinance No. XLV of 1962).] 70-A. This Part shall apply to such areas only as are specified in a notification issued under section 70-D.

Definition

70-B. For the purposes of this Part “Photo-Registrar”, means a Photo-Registrar appointed under this Part.

Appointment of Photo-Registrars

70-C. The Government may appoint a Registrar or Sub-Registrar or any other person to be a Photo-Registrar for the performance of duties under this Part:

Provided that the Government may, subject to such restrictions and conditions as it thinks fit, delegate the power of appointing Photo-Registrars to the Inspector-General of Registration.

Documents may be photographed in areas notified by Government

70-D. (1) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, direct that in any district or sub-district specified in the notification copies of documents admitted to registration under this Act shall be made by means of Photography.

(2) On the issue of such notification it shall be translated into Bengali ³⁹* * * and shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the registration offices affected by the notification.

Power to make rules

70-F. The Inspector-General may, with the previous approval of the Government, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for the purposes of giving effect to the provisions of this Part.]

Application of Act to areas notified under section 70-D

70-E. In any district or sub-district in respect of which a notification has been issued under section 70-D, the provisions of this Act shall, for the purposes of this Part, be subject to the following modifications, namely:-

(1) (a) Every document admitted to registration under section 35 or section 41 shall on every page-

Provided that the party presenting the document for registration shall, if he so desires, be allowed to be present and watch the unbinding, rebinding and sealing of the document:

Provided further that if the party presenting the document so requests the document shall be returned to him unbound:

Provided also that before or after transmission of the document to the Photo-Registrar the party presenting the document may require the registering officer to have it copied by hand under section 52, or if the document has been presented for registration under section 19 its translation copied under section 62 on payment of an additional copying fee.

Provided that when more than one such negative is recorded on one length of film and the Photo-Registrar has affixed his signature and seal at the end of such length of film certifying in the manner prescribed by rules made in this behalf, the exact correspondence of all copies on such length of film with the original documents, the Photo-Registrar shall be deemed to have affixed his signature and seal to each such negative on such length of film.

(2) All words and expressions used in the Act with reference to the making of copies of documents by hand or the entering or filing of documents or memoranda in books provided under section 16 shall, so far as may be necessary, be construed as referring to the making of such copies by means of photography or the entering or filing of documents or memoranda in books made up of copies prepared by means of photography.

(3) Where this Part applies the sections mentioned below shall be deemed to be modified as follows:-

Section 71. Reasons for refusal to register to be recorded

(1) Every Sub-Registrar refusing to register a document, except on the ground that the property to which it relates is not situate within his sub-district, shall make an order of refusal and record his reasons for such order in his Book No. 2, and endorse the words “registration refused” on the document; and, on application made by an person executing or claiming under the document, shall, without payment and unnecessary delay, give him a copy of the reasons so recorded.

(2) No registering officer shall accept for registration a document so endorsed unless and until, under the provisions hereinafter contained, the document is directed to be registered.

Section 72. Appeal to Registrar from orders of Sub-Registrar refusing registration on ground other than denial of execution

(1) Except where the refusal is made on the ground of denial of execution, an appeal shall lie against an order of a Sub-Registrar refusing to admit a document to registration (whether the registration of such document is compulsory or optional) to the Registrar to whom such Sub-Registrar is subordinate, if presented to such Registrar within thirty days from the date of the order; and the Registrar may reverse or alter such order.

⁴⁰(1A) An appeal filed under sub-section (1) shall be disposed of by the Registrar within forty-five days from the date on which it is filed.

(2) If the order of the Registrar directs the document to be registered and the document is duly presented for registration within thirty days after the making of such order, the Sub-Registrar shall obey the same, and thereupon shall, so far as may be practicable, follow the procedure prescribed in sections 58, 59 and 60; and such registration shall take effect as if the document had been registered when it was first duly presented for registration.

Section 73. Application to Registrar where Sub-Registrar refuses to register on ground of denial of execution

(1) When a Sub-Registrar has refused to register a document on the ground that any person by whom it purports to be executed, or his representative or assign, denies its execution, any person claiming under such document, or his representative, assign or agent authorized as aforesaid, may, within thirty days after the making of the order of refusal, apply to the Registrar to whom such Sub-Registrar is subordinate in order to establish his right to have the document registered.

(2) Such application shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by a copy of the reasons recorded under section 71, and the statements in the application shall be verified by the applicant in manner required by law for the verification of plaints.

⁴¹(3) An application filed under sub-section (1) shall be disposed of by the Registrar within thirty days from the date on which it is filed.

Section 74. Procedure of Registrar on such application

In such case, and also where such denial as aforesaid is made before a Registrar in respect of a document presented for registration to him, the Registrar shall, as soon as ⁴²*** may be, ⁴³having regard to the period stated in sub-section (3) of section 73, enquire-

Section 75. Order by Registrar to register and procedure thereon

(1) If the Registrar finds that the document had been executed and that the said requirements have been complied with, he shall order the document to be registered.

(2) If the document is duly presented for registration within thirty days after the making of such order, the registering officer shall obey the same and thereupon shall, so far as may be practicable, follow the procedure prescribed in sections 58, 59 and 60.

(3) Such registration shall take effect as if the document had been registered when it was first duly presented for registration.

(4) The Registrar may, for the purpose of any enquiry under section 74, summon and enforce the attendance of witnesses, and compel them to give evidence, as if he were a Civil Court, and he may also direct by whom the whole or any part of the costs of any such enquiry shall be paid, and such costs shall be recoverable as if they had been awarded in a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

Section 76. Order of refusal by Registrar

(1) Every Registrar refusing-

shall make an order of refusal and record the reasons for such order in his Book No. 2, and, on application made by any person executing or claiming under the document, shall, without unnecessary delay, give him a copy of the reasons so recorded.

(2) No appeal lies from any order by a Registrar under this section or section 72.

Section 77. Suit in case of order of refusal by Registrar

(1) Where the Registrar refuses to order the document to be registered, under section 72 or section 76, any person claiming under such document, or his representative, assign or agent, may, within thirty days after the making of the order of refusal, institute in the Civil Court, within the local limits of whose original jurisdiction is situate the office in which the document is sought to be registered, a suit far a decree directing the document to be registered in such office if it be duly presented for registration within thirty days after the passing of such decree:

Provided that failure to file a suit or the dismissal of a suit filed under this section shall not disentitle a party to any other remedy to which he may be entitled, on the basis of the unregistered document.

(2) The provisions contained in sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 75 shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to all documents presented for registration in accordance with any such decree, and, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the document shall be receivable in evidence in such suit.

Applicability of this Act to digitized registration system

⁴⁵77A. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, a document may be registered digitally in the manner prescribed by rules by using any software approved by the Government for presentation of documents, admitting documents for registration, registration of documents and matters incidental thereto.

(2) For carrying out the purposes of sub-section (1), the Government shall make rules by notification in the Official Gazette.

Section 78. Fees to be fixed by Government

The Government shall prepare a table of fees payable-

and of extra or additional fees payable-

Registration fee for contract for sale, heba and mortgage

⁴⁶78A. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 78 or any other law for the time being in force,-

⁴⁷(bb) registration fee payable for registration of a declaration of gift of any immovable property made under the Hindu, Christian and Buddhist Personal Law, if such gift is permitted by their Personal Law, shall be one hundred taka irrespective of the value of the property, provided such gift is made between spouses, parents and children, grand parents and grand children, full brothers, full sisters and, full brothers and full sisters ;

| | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | (i) where the amount of money to be secured does not exceed five lakh taka- | | 1% (one per centum) of the amount of money to be secured, but not less than two hundred taka and not more than five hundred taka; | 1% (one per centum) of the amount of money to be secured, but not less than two hundred taka and not more than five hundred taka; | | 1% (one per centum) of the amount of money to be secured, but not less than two hundred taka and not more than five hundred taka; | | | | | | | | | | (ii) where the amount of money to be secured is above five lakh taka but does not exceed twenty lakh taka- | | 0.25% (zero point two five per centum) of the amount of money to be secured, but not less than fifteen hundred taka and not more than two thousand taka; and | 0.25% (zero point two five per centum) of the amount of money to be secured, but not less than fifteen hundred taka and not more than two thousand taka; and | | 0.25% (zero point two five per centum) of the amount of money to be secured, but not less than fifteen hundred taka and not more than two thousand taka; and | | | | | | | | | | (iii) where the amount of money to be secured is above twenty lakh taka- | | 0.10% (zero point one zero per centum) of the amount of money to be secured, but not less than three thousand taka and not more than five thousand taka. | | | | | | |

Registration fee for instrument of partition

⁴⁸78B. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 78 or any other law for the time being in force, fee payable for registration of an instrument of partition of immovable property shall be-         (i) five hundred taka, where valuation of the property is not more than three lakh taka;         (ii) seven hundred taka, where valuation of the property is above three lakh taka and not more than ten lakh taka;         (iii) twelve hundred taka, where valuation of the property is above ten lakh taka and not more than thirty lakh taka;         (iv) eighteen hundred taka, where valuation of the property is above thirty lakh taka and not more than fifty lakh taka;         (v) two thousand taka, where valuation of the property is above fifty lakh taka.

Section 79. Publication of fees

A table of the fees so payable shall be published in the official Gazette, and a copy thereof in English and ⁴⁹Bengali shall be exposed to public view in every registration office.

Fees etc. payable on presentation

⁵⁰80. (1) All fees, taxes, service charges and duties under this Act and any other laws for the time being in force for the registration of documents shall be payable on the presentation of such documents and the Registering Officer shall realize the same.

(2) The Government shall by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules regarding the procedure of realization of fees, taxes, service charges and duties and regarding the use of the service charges realized under this chapter.

Section 80C. Hanging up of lists of touts in Registration Offices

A copy of every such list shall be kept hang up in registration office to which the same relates.

Section 80D. Exclusion of touts from precincts of Registration Offices

A registering officer may, by general of special order, exclude from the precincts of his registration office any person whose name is included in any such list.

Section 80E. Presumption as to touts found within precincts of Registration Offices

Every person who having been excluded from the precincts of a registration office under section 80D is found within the precincts of any registration office without written permission from the registering officer shall be deemed to be acting as a tout for the purposes of section 82A.

Provided that this section shall not apply where such person is a party to a document intended for registration at such office or has been directed to appear by any process of Registering Officer.

Powers to frame and publish lists of touts

[ PARTS XIIIA and XIIIB were inserted by section 9 of the Bengal Registration (Amendment) Act, 1942 (Act No. V of 1942).] 80A. (1) Every Registrar of a district as regards his own office and the offices subordinate thereto and every sub-divisional magistrate as regards the registration offices within his own jurisdiction may frame and publish lists of persons proved to his satisfaction or to the satisfaction of any Sub-Registrar as provided in section 80B, by evidence of general repute or otherwise, habitually to act as touts, and may, from time to time, alter and amend such lists.

(2) No person's name shall be included in any such list until he shall have had an opportunity of showing cause against such inclusion.

(3) Where the name of any person is included in a list framed and published by a sub-divisional magistrate under this section, such person may, within thirty days of the publication of the list in which his name first appears, apply in writing to the Registrar of the district for the removal of his name from such list; and the orders of the Registrar passed after such inquiry (if any) as he considers necessary, on such application shall be final.

Section 80B. Inquiry by a Sub-Registrar regarding suspected touts

Any Registrar of a district of sub-divisional magistrate may send to any Sub-Registrar within the jurisdiction of such authority the name of any person alleged or suspected to be a tout, and request the Sub-Registrar to hold an enquiry in regard to such person; and the Sub-Registrar shall thereupon hold an enquiry into the conduct of that person and, after giving him an opportunity of showing cause as provided in sub-section (2) of section 80A, shall report to the authority who has made the request whether the person has been proved to the satisfaction of the Sub-Registrar to be a tout; and that authority may include the name of any person who has been so proved to be a tout in the list of touts framed and published by him under sub-section (1) of section 80A:

Provided that such authority shall here any such person who, before his name has been so included, appears before him and desires to be heard.

Section 80F. Arrest and trial of touts

(1) Any registering officer may, by an order in writing, direct any person named in the order to arrest any such tout found within the precincts of the registration office. Such tout may be arrested accordingly and shall be forthwith produced before the registering officer.

(2) If the tout admits his offence the provisions of section 480 and 481 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, shall be applicable, so far as may be, to his detention, trial and punishment.

If the tout does not admit his offence the provisions of section 480 of the said Code shall be similarly applicable to his detention, trial and punishment.

(3) A registering officer shall be deemed to be a Civil Court for the purposes of sections 480, 481 and 482 of the said Code.

Section 80G. Power to Inspector-General to make rules relating to deed-writers

(1) The Inspector-General shall have power from time to time, to make rules, consistent with this Act-

(2) The rules so made shall be submitted to the Government for approval, and, after they have been approved they shall be published in the official Gazette and on publication shall have effect as if enacted in this Act.

Section 81. Penalty for incorrectly endorsing, copying, translating or registering documents with intent to injure

Every registering officer appointed under this Act and every person employed in his office for the purposes of this Act, who, being charged with the endorsing, copying, translating or registering of any document presented or deposited under its provisions, endorses, copies, translates or registers such document in a manner which he knows or believes to be incorrect, intending thereby to cause or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby cause, injury, as defined in the ⁵¹Penal Code, to any person, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.

Penalty

⁵²82A. Whoever acts as a tout whilst his name is included in a list of touts framed and published under this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extent to three months, or with fine which may extent to five hundred taka, or with both.

Section 82. Penalty for making false statements, delivering false copies or translations, false personation, and abetment

Whoever-

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine or with both.

Section 83. Registering officer may commence prosecutions

(1) A prosecution for any offence under this Act coming to the knowledge of a registering officer in his official capacity may be commenced by or with the permission of the Inspector-General, the Registrar or the Sub-Registrar, in whose territories, district or sub-district, as the case may be, the offence has been committed.

(2) Save as provided in section 80F, offences punishable under this Act shall be triable by any Court or officer exercising powers not less than those of a Magistrate of the second class.

Section 84. Registering officers to be deemed public servants

(1) Every registering officer appointed under this Act shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the ⁵³Penal Code.

(2) Every person shall be legally bound to furnish information to such registering officer when required by him to do so.

(3) In section 228 of the ⁵⁴Penal Code, the words “judicial proceeding” shall be deemed to include any proceeding under this Act.

Section 85. Destruction of unclaimed documents

Documents (other than wills) remaining unclaimed in any registration office for a period exceeding two years may be destroyed.

Section 86. Registering officer not liable for thing bona fide done or refused in his official capacity

No registering officer shall be liable to any suit claim or demand by reason of anything in good faith done or refused in his official capacity.

Section 87. Nothing so done invalidated by defect in appointment or procedure

(1) Nothing done in good faith pursuant to this Act or any Act hereby repealed, by any registering officer, shall be deemed invalid merely by reason of any defect in his appointment or procedure.

(2) Any defect in or the want of authority of a person to present a document shall not by itself, render invalid the registration of the document or the transaction effected by it.

Section 88. Registration of documents executed by Government officers or certain public functionaries

(1) Notwithstanding anything herein contained, it shall not be necessary for any officer of Government, or for the Administrator-General of ⁵⁵Bangladesh or for any Official Trustee or Official Assignee, or for the Receiver or Registrar of ⁵⁶the Supreme Court, to appear in person or by agent at any registration office in any proceeding connected with the registration of any instrument executed by him in his official capacity, or to sign as provided in section 58.

(2) Where any instrument is so executed, the registering officer to whom such instrument is presented for registration may, if he thinks fit, refer to any Secretary to Government or to such officer of Government, Administrator-Genera, Official Trustee, Official Assignee, Receiver or Registrar, as the case may be, for information respecting the same, and, on being satisfied of the execution thereof, shall register the instrument.

Section 89. Copies of certain orders, certificates and instruments to be sent to registering officers and field

(1) Every officer granting a loan under the Land Improvement Loans Act, 1883, shall send a copy of his order to the registering officer within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the whole or any part of the land to be improved or of the land to be granted as collateral security, is situate, and such registering officer shall file the copy in his Book No. 1.

(2) Every Court granting a certificate of sale of immovable property under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, shall send a copy of such certificate to the registering officer within the local limits of whose jurisdiction whole or any part of the immoveable property comprised in such certificate is situate, and such officer shall file the copy in his Book No. 1.

(3) Every officer and every Co-operative Society granting any such loan as is referred to in clause (x) of sub-section (2) of section 17 shall send a copy of any instrument whereby immoveable property is mortgaged for the purpose of securing the repayment of the loan, and if any such property is mortgaged for the same purpose in the order granting the loan, a copy also of that order, to the registering officer within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the whole or any part of the property so mortgaged is situate, and such registering officer shall file the copy or copies, as the case may be, in his Book No. 1.

(4) Every Revenue-officer granting a certificate of sale to the purchaser of immoveable property sold by public auction shall send a copy of the certificate to the registering officer within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the whole or any part of the property comprised in the certificate is situate, and such officer shall file the copy in his Book No. 1.

Section 90. Exemption of certain documents executed by or in favour of Government

(1) Nothing contained in this Act ⁵⁷* * * shall be deemed to require, or to have at any time required, the registration of any of the following documents or maps, namely:-

(2) All such documents and maps shall, for the purposes of sections 48 and 49, be deemed to have been and to be registered in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Section 91. Inspection and copies of such documents

Subject to such rules and the previous payment of such fees as the Government prescribes in this behalf, all documents and maps mentioned in section 90, clauses (a), (b), (c) and (e), and all registers of the documents mentioned in clause (d), shall be open to the inspection of any person applying to inspect the same, and, subject as aforesaid, copies of such documents shall be given to all persons applying for such copies.

Section 92. Repealed

[Repealed by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937.]

Section 93. Repealed

[Repealed by section 2 and Schedule of the Repealing Act, 1938 (Act No. I of 1938).]