Section16
The Registration Act, 1908

Register-books and fire-proof boxes

In force From 01 Jan 1909 Act 16 of 1908 As on 15 Oct 2026

Act 16 of 1908 Ministry Rural Development Enacted 18 Dec 1908 In force 01 Jan 1909 Cited by 2 provisions

Section 16 of the Registration Act, 1908 deals with register-books and fire-proof boxes. The [State Government] shall provide for the office of every registering officer the books necessary for the purposes of this Act. The Act came into force on 01 Jan 1909.

(1) The 1[State 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 InspectorGeneral, with the sanction of the 1[State 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 1[State 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 16, The Registration Act, 1908 (Act 16 of 1908).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Related judgements & precedents

These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.

  1. State of H. P vs Shivalik Agro Poly Products

    Supreme Court of India 14 Sep 2004 Binding - Supreme Court

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    The validity of a fee notification issued by the State Government under Section 78 of the Registration Act must be tested by examining whether there is a reasonable relationship (not mathematical exactitude) between the aggregate fee collections and aggregate services rendered across the entire class of contributors. A fee does not cease to be valid merely because: (a) it is collected on a graduated scale based on the value or consideration of instruments; (b) individual recipients receive services disproportionate to fees paid; (c) the collections are credited to the Consolidated Fund of the State rather than a separate fund, as mandated by Article 266 of the Constitution; or (d) the State does not segregate and exclusively allocate fees to registration department expenditure. The test of correlation is to be reckoned at the aggregate level examining totality of services against totality of receipts across the entire registration system, not at the individual level.

    On this section: Requires State Government to provide books and records management for registration purposes, entailing significant expenditure

    Read the full order on eCourts India

The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.

Questions about Section 16

What have the courts held on Section 16 of the Registration Act?

State of H. P vs Shivalik Agro Poly Products (14 Sep 2004) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Requires State Government to provide books and records management for registration purposes, entailing significant expenditure.

How do I find court cases under Section 16 of the Registration Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Registration Act 16, section 16 Registration Act, section 16 of the Registration Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with State of H. P vs Shivalik Agro Poly Products (14 Sep 2004).

What should I read with Section 16 of the Registration Act, and has it changed?

2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it.

When did Section 16 of the Registration Act come into force?

Section 16 of the Registration Act, cited as Registration Act 16, came into force on 01 Jan 1909, having been enacted on 18 Dec 1908. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.