Latest StoriesRegulatory

HC nullifies Tamil Nadu law allowing registrars to block deals

MADURAI: The Madras High Court has annulled Section 34-C of the Registration Act, 1908, which was amended by Tamil Nadu in 2026. The court ruled that this section unjustly conferred sub-registrars with the authority to impede property registrations based on issues within civil court jurisdiction. A division bench comprising Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman deemed the provision unconstitutional and invalid, while accepting four writ petitions that challenged the amendment. Section 34-C prohibited the registration of documents related to immovable property unless the individuals involved presented the original document and an encumbrance certificate. Furthermore, registration was restricted in cases…

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Maharashtra: New Stamp Duty Penalty Starts January 1

PUNE: The increased penalty of ₹1 lakh for executing property documents without adequate stamp duty will be effective from January 1, 2026. An official from the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) office confirmed this on Monday, stating, “The amendment was notified on December 31, 2025, and will be enforced starting January 1, 2026. Any case registered concerning a shortfall in stamp duty post this date will be subjected to the revised penalty.” During the Maharashtra Budget presentation for 2026-27 on March 6, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized this change, proposing an increase in the penalty from the existing ₹5,000 to…