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REGISTERED NO. DL-(N)04/0007/2003-26
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-20022026-270378
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 1
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 5]
NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026/PHALGUNA 1, 1947 (Saka)
Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation.
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(Legislative Department)
New Delhi, the 20th February, 2026/Phalguna 1, 1947 (Saka)
THE LAKSHADWEEP (REGISTRATION AMENDMENT)
REGULATION, 2026
No. 2 OF 2026
Promulgated by the President in the Seventy-seventh Year of the
Republic of India.
A Regulation further to amend the Registration Act, 1908, with a view to modernise and
digitise the document registration framework; to enhance the legal
certainty and public notice of property rights; to curb fraudulent
practices and improve accountability through regulation of document
writers; to facilitate the smooth conduct of real estate and civil
transactions in line with the economic development goals; and to empower the
administration to regulate registration activity, in the Union territory of
Lakshadweep.
In exercise of the powers conferred by article 240 of the Constitution, the
President is pleased to promulgate the following Regulation made by her:-
1. (1) This Regulation may be called the Lakshadweep (Registration
Amendment) Regulation, 2026.
Short title,
extent and
commencement.
(2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Lakshadweep.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Administrator may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
Amendment of
section 2.
2. In section 2 of the Registration Act, 1908 (hereinafter referred to as the
principal Act),—
16 of 1908.
(i) in clause (1), for the words "his father's name, or where he is usually
described as the son of his mother, then his mother's name", the words "his
marital status and his father's name, or where he is usually described as the
ward of his mother, then his mother's name" shall be substituted;
(ii) after clause (1), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-
'(1A) "Administration" means the Administration of the Union
territory of Lakshadweep headed by the Administrator appointed by the
President under article 239 of the Constitution;';
(iii) for clause (2), the following shall be substituted, namely:—
"(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 and also includes a Book in electronic form.
Explanation. For the purposes of this clause, the expression
"electronic form" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in
clause (r) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology
Act, 2000.';
21 of 2000.
(iv) after clause (9), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely:-
'(9A) "notification” means a notification published in the Official
Gazette of the Union territory of Lakshadweep, and the expression
"notified" shall be construed accordingly;
(9B) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made by the
Administration of the Union territory of Lakshadweep;';
(v) after clause (10), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-
'(11) "Union territory" means the Union territory of
Lakshadweep.'.
Amendment of
section 17.
3. In section 17 of the principal Act,-
(a) in sub-section (1), after clause (e) and before the proviso, the
following clauses shall be inserted, namely:—
"(f) any decree or order or award or a copy thereof, with respect to
an immovable property, passed by a civil court, on consent of the
defendants or on circumstantial evidence, but not on the basis of any
instrument which is admissible in evidence under section 35 of the
Indian Stamp Act, 1899 such as registered title deed produced by the
plaintiff, where such decree or order or award purports or operate to
create, declare, assign, limit, extinguish whether in present or in future,
the right, title or interest, whether vested or contingent, of the value of
one hundred rupees or more; and
2 of 1899.
(g) sale certificate issued by any competent officer or authority
under any Central Act or State Act for the time being in force:”;
(b) in sub-section (2),—
(i) in clause (vi), for the words “any decree or order of a Court",
the words, brackets, letter and figure "any decree or order of a court, not
being a decree or order or award falling under clause (f) of
sub-section (1)," shall be substituted;
(ii) the Explanation shall be omitted.
4. After section 19 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted,
namely:-
Insertion of new
section 19A.
"19A. (1) No document shall be accepted for registration, unless it is
accompanied by a true copy thereof.
Documents
presented for
registration are
to be
accompanied by
true copies
thereof.
(2) The true copy referred to in sub-section (1) shall be legibly
handwritten, printed, typewritten, lithographed or otherwise prepared in
accordance with such rules as may be made in this behalf, and such true copy
shall be self attested.".
5. In section 20 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), after the words
“persons executing the document”, the words "and in the case of a document for
sale of property, the persons claiming under that document also” shall be inserted.
Amendment of
section 20.
6. After section 22 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted,
namely:-
Insertion of new
section 22A.
"22A. (1) The registering officer may refuse the registration of a
document on the following grounds:-
Grounds for
refusal of
registration of a
document.
(a) the document is submitted without a true translation in a
language commonly understood in the district of the registering officer;
(b) any interlineation, blank, erasure or alteration appears in the
document, unless attested with the signature or initial of such person
executing the document;
(c) non-testamentary document, as specified, is presented without
sufficient description to identify the property that is the subject of
registration as specified under section 21;
(d) document, not being a will, is presented for registration later
than four months after the date of execution, under section 23, subject to
sections 24, 25 and 26;
(e) the person by whom the document is purported to be executed—
(i) denies the execution of the document;
(ii) is a minor;
(iii) appears to the registering officer to be a person with
mental incapacity; or
(iv) is dead and such person's representative or assign denies
execution;
(f) the document relates to transfer of property by way of
agreement to sale, sale, gift, exchange or lease or otherwise in respect of
any immovable property owned by the Central Government or Union
territory or any authority or undertaking of the Central Government or
Union territory or any authority or undertaking constituted or
established under any Central Act or any other Regulation for the
time being in force, unless such document is accompanied by a
no-objection certificate issued by the competent authority;
(g) the document relates to transfer of property by way of
agreement to sale, sale, gift, exchange or permanent alienation or lease
or otherwise pertaining to any immovable property which is attached
permanently or provisionally by any competent authority under any
Central Act or any other Regulation for the time being in force or any
court or tribunal or authority, upon the production of order of such
attachment;
(h) the document relates to the transfer of property in respect of
which the approval of the Central Government or Union territory or any
authority or undertaking of the Central Government or Union territory
or any authority or undertaking constituted or established under any
Central Act or any other Regulation is required under any law for the
time being in force, before entering into any transactions in connection
with such immovable property, unless such document is accompanied
by an approval (by whatever name called) issued by the competent
authority;
(i) the appropriate registration fee under this Act has not been paid;
(j) the registering officer finds that the document has not been
executed by the person by whom it is purported to have been executed
based on information accessed and examined;
(k) the registering officer finds that he is not satisfied about the
identity of the persons appearing before him and alleging to have
executed the document; or
(1) any other ground on which registration may be refused by the
registering officer under this Act.
(2) The power under this section must not be construed as empowering
the registering officer to adjudicate upon questions of title or ownership of
property, which are within the jurisdiction of any competent court or other
authority under any other law for the time being in force:
Provided that such a decision of refusal shall apply to documents
executed from the date of promulgation of this Regulation.
(3) Reasons for refusal to register to be recorded as specified under
section 71.".
Amendment of
section 28.
7. In section 28 of the principal Act, for the words, brackets and letters
"clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e),", the words, brackets and letters “clauses (a), (b),
(c), (d), (e), (f) and (g)," shall be substituted.
Amendment of
section 34.
8. In section 34 of the principal Act,-
(i) in sub-section (1), after the words "persons executing such
document,", the words “and in the case of document for sale of property, the
persons claiming under that document” shall be inserted;
(ii) in sub-section (3), in clause (b), after the words "executed the
document,", the words “or they are claiming under the document" shall be
inserted.
Insertion of new
section 34A.
9. After section 34 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted,
namely:-
"34A. Subject to the provisions of this Regulation, no document for sale
of property shall be registered under this Regulation, unless the person
claiming under the document has also signed such document.".
Person claiming
under document
for sale of
property also to
sign document.
10. In section 45 of the principal Act,-
Amendment of
section 45.
(a) in sub-section (1), for the words "cause the contents thereof", the
words "cause a true copy of the contents thereof” shall be substituted;
(b) in sub-section (2), for the words "copy has been made", the words
"true copy has been filed" shall be substituted.
11. In section 46 of the principal Act, in sub-section (2),—
Amendment of
section 46.
(a) for the words "unless the will has been already copied", the words
"unless a true copy of the will has already been filed" shall be substituted;
(b) for the words and figure "cause the will to be copied into his Book
No. 3", the words and figure “cause a true copy of the will to be made and
filed in his Book No. 3" shall be substituted.
12. In section 50 of the principal Act, for the words, brackets, letters and
figures "clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of section 17, sub-section (1)", the words,
brackets, letters and figures “clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of
sub-section (1) of section 17" shall be substituted.
Amendment of
section 50.
13. In section 51 of the principal Act,-
Amendment of
section 51.
(a) for sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be substituted,
namely:-
"(2) In Book 1 shall be filed-
(i) true copies of all documents; and
(ii) the Memoranda,
registered under sections 17, 18 and 89 which relates to immovable
property, other than wills.";
(b) in sub-section (3), for the words “entered all documents", the words
"filed the true copies of all documents” shall be substituted;
(c) after sub-section (4), the following sub-section shall be inserted,
namely:-
"(5) If, any of the Books mentioned in sub-section (1) is destroyed
or in the opinion of the Registrar, is in danger of being destroyed, or
becoming illegible wholly or partially, the Registrar may, by a written
order, direct such Book or such portion thereof as he thinks fit, to be
reconstructed or recopied, as the case may be, and authenticated in such
manner as may be prescribed, and the copy prepared and authenticated
under such direction shall, for the purposes of this Regulation, be
deemed to have taken the place of and to be the original Book or portion
thereof and all references in this Regulation, to the original Book or
portion thereof, shall be deemed to be references to the Book or portion
so prepared and authenticated.”.
14. In section 52 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), for clause (c), the
following clause shall be substituted, namely:-
Amendment of
section 52.
"(c) subject to the provisions contained in section 62, where a document
is admitted to registration, a true copy thereof shall, without unnecessary
delay, be filed in the appropriate Book according to the order of its
admission.".
15. In section 53 of the principal Act, the following proviso shall be inserted,
namely:-
Amendment of
section 53.
"Provided that where the Book is in electronic form, all entries and
numbers in that Book and the Book maintained manually shall be identical.".
16. In section 54 of the principal Act, for the words "copied, or filed a
memorandum of", the words "filed a true copy or a memorandum of" shall be
substituted.
Amendment of
section 54.
17. In section 55 of the principal Act,-
Amendment of
section 55.
(a) in sub-section (2), for the words "document entered or memorandum
filed", the words “document of which a true copy or a memorandum, is filed"
shall be substituted;
(b) in sub-section (4), for the words "authority entered", the words
"authority of which a true copy is filed" shall be substituted;
(c) in sub-section (5), for the words "document entered", the words
"document of which a true copy is filed" shall be substituted.
18. In section 58 of the principal Act,-
Amendment of
section 58.
(i) in sub-section (1), after clause (a), the following clause shall be
inserted, namely:—
"(aa) in the case of a document for sale of property, the signature
and addition of every person admitting the claim under such document,
and, if such claim has been admitted by the representative, assignee or
agent of any person, the signature and addition of such representative,
assignee or agent;";
(ii) in sub-section (2), after the words “execution of a document", the
words "and in the case a document for sale of property, any person admitting
the execution of such document, or any person admitting the claim under that
document" shall be inserted.
19. In section 60 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), for the words "the
document has been copied", the words "the true copy of the document has been
filed" shall be substituted.
Amendment of
section 60.
20. In section 62 of the principal Act, for sub-section (1), the following
sub-section shall be substituted, namely:-
Amendment of
section 62.
"(1) When a document is presented for registration under section 19, the
translation together with the true copy of the document, shall be filed in the
appropriate Book.".
21. After section 68 of the principal Act, the following sections shall be
inserted, namely:—
Insertion of new
sections 68A and
68B.
'68A. (1) No person who is not licensed as provided under section 68B,
shall engage in the profession of document-writer and any document
drawn-up and signed by a person who does not hold a licence, shall not be
accepted for registration by the registering officers:
Prohibition of
unlicensed
person.
Provided that no advocate or pleader shall be required to have a licence
under section 68B.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit an executant of a document
from preparing a document to be presented for registration or from performing
any other act on his own behalf for which a licensed document-writer could
have been otherwise engaged.
(3) Nothing in this section shall apply to a document executed outside of
India or outside of the Union territory or a will or a document scribed by a
licensed document-writer authorised for one sub-district or district, as the case
may be, or a document executed by or on behalf of the Union territory or local
authorities or other corporate bodies.
68B. (1) The Registrar of district or any other officer authorised by him
in this behalf may, grant a licence in the prescribed form, to a document-writer
or his apprentice, on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed:
Grant of licence
to document-
writers.
Provided that such licence shall be—
(i) valid for one sub-district or one district; and
(ii) granted after conducting a written test in such manner as may
be determined by the Administrator.
(2) A licence may be granted to any person who has been in the
profession of the document-writer for at least ten years prior to date of
commencement of this Regulation, without requiring him to appear in the
written test referred to in sub-section (1), if the Registrar of a district or any
other officer authorised by him in this behalf is satisfied that he is otherwise
fit to take the profession of a document-writer.
(3) A licence granted under sub-section (1) shall remain valid for three
years from the date of grant of licence and shall be subject to renewal before
the expiry of its period of validity, on such terms and conditions as may be
prescribed.
(4) The licence granted under sub-section (1) may, at any time, be
suspended or cancelled for breach of such conditions as may be prescribed or
for any other reason to be recorded in writing by the Registrar of the district
or an officer authorised by him, after giving the document-writer an
opportunity to show cause against the proposed suspension or cancellation of
the licence and after the same has been duly considered.
(5) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Registrar of the district or
an officer authorised by him, may file an appeal to the Inspector-General of
Registration within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of such
order passed under this section:
Provided that the Appellate Authority may entertain the appeal after the
expiry of the said period of thirty days, if he is satisfied that the appellant was
prevented by a sufficient cause from preferring the appeal within the given time.
Explanation. For the purposes of sections 68A and this section, the
expressions,—
(i) "Apprentice” means a person who assists a document-writer in
the preparation of document and transcribing them (including copies, if
any) to be presented for registration; and
(ii) "Document-writer” means and includes a person engaged in
the profession of preparing documents, namely, doing the work of
conveyancing, investigation of titles, preparation of draft deeds and
engrossing and transcribing the deed, including copies, if any, for
registration, as well as conducting searches and inspection under the
Regulation.'.
22. In section 69 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), after clause (b), the
following clause shall be inserted, namely:-
Amendment of
section 69.
"(bb) providing for the grant of licences to document-writers and
apprentices to document-writer, the suspension and cancellation of such
licences, the terms and conditions under which licences may be granted and
generally for all other purposes connected with the writing of documents to be
presented for registration;".
23. After section 70 of the principal Act, the following Part shall be inserted,
namely:-
Insertion of new
Part XIA.
'PART XIA
REGISTRATION OF DOCUMENTS BY MEANS OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Application of
this Part.
70A. This Part shall apply to the areas only in respect of which a
notification is issued by the Administration under section 70B.
70B. (1) The Administration may, by notification, direct that in any
office as may be specified therein, the process of registration of any category
or categories of documents may be completed and copying done with the help
of the electronic devices like computers, scanners and the compact disks and
copies preserved on such devices and retrieved when required.
Documents
scanned by
electronic
devices in areas
notified by
Administration.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Regulation or any other
law for the time being in force in the Union territory, a copy of any documents
registered and scanned using the electronic devices and certified or attested by
the registering officer in-charge of the office shall be admissible as evidence
of any transaction as is described in the said document.
(3) The registration and authentication of electronic records shall be
carried out using secure authentication mechanisms, including but not
limited to-
(a) "electronic signatures" as defined in clause (ta) of
sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000;
21 of 2000.
(b) Aadhaar based e-authentication under the Aadhaar (Targeted
Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services)
Act, 2016;
18 of 2016.
(c) any other form of digital verification as may be prescribed.
(4) All data storage, processing and retrieval under this provision shall
comply with the provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023,
including appropriate data protection, encryption, access control, audit trails
and cyber security protocols to ensure confidentiality, integrity and
availability of personal and sensitive data.
22 of 2023.
(5) The Administration shall ensure periodic review and updating of the
technological infrastructure and protocols used for electronic registration and
document management, in alignment with prevailing national cyber security
standards and data protection laws.
Saving.
70C. Nothing contained in this Part shall apply—
(i) to any document, which in the opinion of registering officer, is
not in a fit condition to be processed by means of electronic devices;
(ii) in the case of unforeseen eventuality like break down of the
computerised system of registration:
Provided that the registering officer shall record the reason in writing
therefor:
Provided further that the registering officer shall ensure that the data and
images of the documents registered during the period of non-application of
this Part, due to a breakdown of the computerised system, are duly
incorporated into the computer system, after the same is restored, in such
manner as may be prescribed.'.
24. After section 78 of the principal Act, the following section shall be
inserted, namely:-
Insertion of new
section 78A.
"78A. If the Administration is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient
in the public interest so to do, it may, by notification, reduce or remit, whether
prospectively or retrospectively, in the whole or any part of the Union
territory, any fee or fees payable in respect of any of the matters specified in
clauses (a) to (i) of section 78, either generally or for any particular class or
classes of cases and in respect of persons generally or any particular class or
classes of persons.".
Power to reduce
or remit fees.
25. After section 80 of the principal Act, the following section shall be
inserted, namely:-
Insertion of new
section 80A.
"80A. (1) If on inspection or otherwise, it is found that any fee payable
under this Regulation has not been paid or has been paid insufficiently, such
fee may (after failure to pay the same on demand within the period specified
therein), on a certificate of the Inspector-General of Registration, be recovered
as an arrear of land revenue from the person from whom such demand is made,
the certificate issued by the Inspector-General shall be binding on the parties:
Recovery of fees
and provision for
refund.
Provided that no such certificate shall be granted unless due inquiry is
made and such person is given an opportunity of being heard.
(2) Where the Inspector-General of Registration finds the amount of fee
in excess of that which is legally chargeable has been charged and paid under
the provisions of this Regulation, he may, upon an application in writing or
otherwise, refund the excess fee so charged and paid.".
26. For section 81 of the principal Act, the following section shall be
substituted, namely:-
Substitution of
new section for
section 81.
"81. Every registering officer appointed under this Regulation and every
person employed in his office for the purposes of this Regulation, who, being
charged with the endorsing, copying, translating, registering or filing a true
copy of any document presented or deposited under its provisions, endorses,
copies, translates, registers or files a true copy of 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
clause (14) of section 2 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, to any person,
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven
years, or with fine, or with both.".
45 of 2023.
Penalty for
incorrectly
endorsing,
copying,
translating,
registering or
filing documents
with intent to
injure.
27. In section 82 of the principal Act, in clause (b), for the words and figures
"section 19 or section 21", the words “this Regulation or the rules made thereunder"
shall be substituted.
Amendment of
section 82.
28. After section 82 of the principal Act, the following section shall be
inserted, namely:-
Insertion of new
section 82A.
"82A. (1) On and from such date as the Administration may, by
notification, appoint in this behalf, no person shall write a document for
another person for presentation to a registering officer, except under a licence
granted in accordance with the rules made under this Regulation:
Penalty for
writing
documents
without licence.
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply where the writer of
such document is an authorised agent of the executants or a pleader engaged
by the executants for drawing up the document or the registered clerk of such
pleader.
(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1), shall be
punishable with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees.”.
29. In section 83 of the principal Act, for sub-section (1), the following
sub-section shall be substituted, namely:-
Amendment of
section 83.
"(1) No prosecution for any offence under this Regulation shall be
commenced save by or with the permission of the Inspector-General or any
officer empowered in this behalf by the Administration.".
30. In section 84 of the principal Act,—
Amendment of
section 84.
(i) in sub-section (1), for the words “Indian Penal Code”, the words and
figures "Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023” shall be substituted;
45 of 1860.
45 of 2023.
(ii) in sub-section (3), for the words and figures “In section 228 of the
Indian Penal Code", the words and figures “In section 267 of the Bharatiya
Nyaya Sanhita, 2023" shall be substituted.
45 of 1860.
45 of 2023.
31. After section 87 of the principal Act, the following section shall be
inserted, namely:—
Insertion of new
section 87A.
“87A. The Administration may, by order published in the Official
Gazette of the Union territory, delegate all or any of the powers conferred on
them under this Regulation to the Inspector-General of Registration, who shall
exercise the same subject to such restrictions and conditions as the
Administration may impose.".
Delegation of
powers.
32. After section 89 of the principal Act, the following section shall be
inserted, namely:-
Insertion of new
section 89A.
"89A. (1) The Administrator, by notification and subject to conditions
of previous publication, may, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this
Regulation.
Power to make
rules.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
powers, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
(a) the manner of preparation of true copies accompanied to
documents for registration under sub-section (2) of section 19A;
(b) the manner of reconstruction or recopying and authentication
of Book or portion of such Book by the Registrar under sub-section (5)
of section 51;
(c) the form, terms and conditions and the method of conducting a
written test for granting of a licence by the Registrar under sub-section (1)
of section 68B;
(d) terms and conditions for renewal of licence by the Registrar
under sub-section (3) of section 68B;
(e) the conditions for suspension or cancellation of licence under
sub-section (4) of section 68B;
(f) any other form of digital verification under clause (c) of
sub-section (3) of section 70B;
(g) the manner of restoration of documents through electronic
devices mentioned under the second proviso to section 70C; and
(h) any other matter which is to be, or may be, prescribed, or in
respect of which provision is to be made, by rules.
(3) Every rules made under this section shall be notified in the Official
Gazette of the Union territory and, unless they are expressed to come into force
on a particular day, shall come into force on the day on which they are so
notified.
(4) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be
after it is made, before each House of Parliament.".
33. In section 90 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), in clause (d), for the
words "grants or assignments by Government of land or of any interest in land", the
words "grants, assignments or leases by Government of immovable property or of
any interest in immovable property" shall be substituted.
Amendment of
section 90.
34. After section 93 of the principal Act, the following section shall be
inserted, namely:—
Insertion of new
section 94.
"94. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this
Regulation, the Administrator may, by order published in the Official Gazette
of Union territory, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Regulation as may appear to it to be necessary or expedient for
removing the difficulty:
Power to remove
difficulties.
Provided that no order shall be made under this section after the expiry
of two years from the date of commencement of this Regulation.
(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be
after it is made, before each House of Parliament.”.
DROUPADI MURMU,
President.
DR. RAJIV MANI,
Secretary to the Govt. of India.
UPLOADED BY THE MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI-110002
AND PUBLISHED BY THE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI-110054.
MGIPMRND—619 GI—20.02.2026
KSHITIZ Digitally signed by
KSHITIZ MOHAN
Date: 2026.02.20
MOHAN 21:24:14 +05'30'
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