Documents in language not understood by registering officer
Section 19 of the Registration Act, 1908 deals with 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 documents, unless it be accompanied by a true translation into a language commonly used in the district a The Act came into force on 01 Jan 1909.
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 documents, unless it be accompanied by a true translation into a language commonly used in the district and also by a true copy.
STATE AMENDMENT
Karnataka
Insertion of new section 19A.--After section 19 of the Registration Act, 1908 (Central Act 16 of 1908) (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), the following section shall be inserted namely:--
"19A. Documents presented for registration to be accompanied by true copies thereof.--(1) No document shall be accepted for registration unless it is accompanied by a true copy thereof.
(2) The true copy referred to in sub-section (1) shall be neatly handwritten, printed, typewritten, lithographed or otherwise prepared in accordance with such rules may be made in this matter."
[Vide Karnataka Act 55 of 1976, s. 4]
Tripura--
Amendment of Section 19.---In section 19 of the principal Act, for the words "a true translation" the words "two copies of the true translation" shall be substituted. [Vide Tripura Act 7 of 1982, s. 3]
STATE AMENDMENT
Kerala
Amendment of section 19.--In section 19 of the principal Act, the words "and also by a true copy" shall be omitted.
[Vide kerala Act 7 of 1968, s. 3]
Insertion of new section 19A.---After section 19 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely:--
"19A. Documents presented for registration to be accompanied by true copies thereof.--(1) No documents shall be accepted for registration unless it is accompanied by a true copy thereof.
(2) The true copy referred to in sub-section (1) shall be neatly handwritten, printed, typewritten, lithographed or otherwise, prepared in accordance with such rules as may be made in this behalf."
[Vide kerala Act 7 of 1968, s. 4]
STATE AMENDMENT
Himachal Pradesh
4. Amendment of section 19.- In section 19 of the principal Act, for the words "a true translation", the words "two copies of the true translation" shall be substituted.
[Vide Himachal Pradesh Act 2 of 1969, s. 4]
Orissa
Amendment of section 19.-- In the Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908) (hereinafter referred to as the principal act), in section 19, the words " and also by a true copy" shall be omitted.
[Vide Orissa Act 14 of 1989, s. 2]
Insertion of new section 19-A.--In the principal Act, after section 19, the following section shall be inserted, namely:--
"19-A. Documents Presented for registration on to accompany true copies thereof.--(1) No document shall be accepted for registration, unless it is accompanied by a true copy thereof.
(2) The true copy referred to in sub-section (1) shall be legibly handwritten, printed, type-written, lithographed, cyclostyled or otherwise prepared only on one side of the paper and in accordance with such rules as may be made in this behalf by the State Government and shall contain a declaration in the prescribed manner that the same is true copy of the document and its translation, if any.".
[Vide Orissa Act 14 of 1989, s. 3]
Orissa
Amendment of section 19-A.--In Sub-section (2), for the words "otherwise prepared", the words "otherwise legibly prepared" shall be substituted.
[Vide Orissa Act 8 of 2002, s. 4]
Section 19, 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.
This section refers to
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… Ltd. v. M/s. Chandmari Tea Co. Pvt. Ltd. <sup>20</sup> considered the issue whether an arbitration agreement in an unregistered and unstamped lease deed, which required compulsory registration under Sections 17 and 19 of the Registration Act 1908, was valid and enforceable, being a part of the said lease deed which was invalid and unenforceable. A two-judge bench of this Court considered the following two issues : (i) Whether an arbitration agreement contained in an unregistered (but compulsorily registerable) instrument is …
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… Chandramma is unregistered. The mortgage deed executed under Section 59 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 has to be registered as per the provisions of Sections 17 and 19 of the Registration Act. In the absence of registration and payment of necessary stamp duty, such mortgage document does not create any interest in the property. If it is so, such deed of mortgage cannot be relied upon by the defendant. The First Appellate Court therefore has rightly held that the defendant cannot …
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 19
What does Section 19 of the Registration Act deal with?
Section 19 of the Registration Act is headed "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 documents, unless it be accompanied by a true translation into a language commonly used in the district a
How do I find court cases under Section 19 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 19, section 19 Registration Act, section 19 of the Registration Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 19 of the Registration Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on Registration Act 19, so none of them can safely be read on its own. 3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. One instrument names it without being made under it, most recently The Rajasthan Registration Rules 1955 Volume-I (1955).
When did Section 19 of the Registration Act come into force?
Section 19 of the Registration Act, cited as Registration Act 19, 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
- 89. Copies of certain orders, certificates and instruments to be sent to registering officers and filed3309 words
- 17. Documents of which registration is compulsory1430 words
- 69. Power of Inspector-General to superintend registration offices and make rules1164 words
- 80. Fees payable on presentation1120 words
- 51. Register-books to be kept in the several offices868 words
- 22. Description of houses and land by reference to Government maps or surveys737 words
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 18 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.