“‘No Valid Title, No Relief’ : Supreme Court Rules Against Fraudulent Land Transfers, Upholds State’s Vesting Rights
The Supreme Court ruled that unregistered agreements of sale and subsequent revalidations cannot confer valid title under the Registration Act, 1908, emphasizing that only registered deeds of conveyance transfer immovable property rights. It upheld the State's statutory vesting of land under land reform laws, rejecting claims based on fraudulent documents and unproven possession. The judgment clarified that interim court orders cannot establish lawful possession, and discretionary writ relief under Article 226 is unavailable where title is suspect. The Court reaffirmed the principles from Suraj Lamp regarding invalid "GPA sales" while preserving the State's right to initiate proceedings under land ceiling laws.
Facts Of The Case:
The case involved a dispute over 53 acres of land in...