Certain registered documents relating to land to take effect against unregistered documents
Section 50 of the Registration Act, 1908 deals with certain registered documents relating to land to take effect against unregistered documents. Every document of the kinds mentioned in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of section 17, sub-section (1), and clauses (a) and (b) of section 18, shall, if duly registered, take effect as regards the property comprised therein, against every unregistered document relating to the same property, and not b The Act came into force on 01 Jan 1909.
(1) Every document of the kinds mentioned in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of section 17, sub-section (1), and clauses (a) and (b) of section 18, shall, if duly registered, take effect as regards the property comprised therein, against every unregistered document relating to the same property, and not being a decree or order, whether such unregistered document be of the same nature as the registered document or not.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) applies to leases exempted under the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 17 or to any document mentioned in sub-section (2) of the same section, or to any registered document which had not priority under the law in force at the commencement of this Act.
Explanation.--In cases, where Act No. 16 of 1864 or the Indian Registration Act, 1866 (20 of 1866), was in force in the place and at the time in and at which such unregistered document was executed, "unregistered" means not registered according to such Act, and, where the document is executed after the first day of July, 1871, not registered under the Indian Registration Act, 1871 (8 of 1871), or the Indian Registration Act, 1877 (3 of 1877), or this Act.
Section 50, 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.
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B. Santoshamma vs D. Sarala
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When a vendor deliberately transfers part of the subject matter of a sale agreement to a third party after entering into the agreement with the vendee, and the vendee has demonstrated readiness and willingness to perform her obligations by paying a substantial portion of the consideration within the stipulated time, the court may, under Section 12 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963, direct specific performance of so much of the contract as can be performed by reducing the consideration proportionally in lieu of damages. A registered deed of conveyance takes priority over an unregistered sale agreement under Section 50 of the Registration Act, 1908, and the rights of a bona fide transferee cannot be nullified in a suit for specific performance where the transferee was not impleaded as a necessary party within the period of limitation.
On this section: Provides that a registered document takes effect against every unregistered document relating to the same property. The Court applied this to hold that the registered deed in favour of Pratap Reddy took priority over the unregistered sale agreement with Sarala.
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 50
What have the courts held on Section 50 of the Registration Act?
B. Santoshamma vs D. Sarala (18 Sep 2020) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Provides that a registered document takes effect against every unregistered document relating to the same property. The Court applied this to hold that the registered deed in favour of Pratap Reddy took priority over the unregistered sale agreement with Sarala.
How do I find court cases under Section 50 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 50, section 50 Registration Act, section 50 of the Registration Act. People searching for it also type registration act 1908 section 50. 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 B. Santoshamma vs D. Sarala (18 Sep 2020).
What should I read with Section 50 of the Registration Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 17 (Documents of which registration is compulsory), section 18 (Documents of which registration is optional), so none of them can safely be read on its own.
When did Section 50 of the Registration Act come into force?
Section 50 of the Registration Act, cited as Registration Act 50, 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 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.