Calcutta HC Directs District Registrar To Ensure Supply Of Legible Copies When Application Is Made For Certified Copies Of Registered Documents

The Calcutta High Court has recently directed the District Registrar to ensure that legible copies are always provided when certified copies of a registered document is applied for otherwise the intervention of the Court will always be required for the supply of such legible copies. 

In the instant case, the petitioner had applied for obtaining the certified copy of a sale deed however the copy of the sale deed which had been provided to the petitioner was illegible. Subsequently, the petitioner had applied to the District Registrar to furnish a legible copy of the concerned document, however such no action had been taken on such a request. Thereafter, the instant plea had been filed. 

Justice Amrita Sinha observed it is evident from the photocopy of the deed supplied to the petitioner that it is absolutely illegible and accordingly remarked, 

"The copy of the deed which was supplied to the petitioner is absolutely illegible. Not a word from the said deed can be read."

During the proceedings, it was pointed out to the Court that this is a problem which is currently being faced on a regular basis by parties who apply before the registering authority for obtaining certified copies of the registered documents.

Taking into consideration the grievance raised, the Court directed, 

"The District Registrar is directed to ensure that when certified copy of a registered document is applied for, then legible copy should always be provided to the applicants; otherwise, the applicants will be required to approach Court for obtaining order for supplying legible copy of the document(s) they require."

The order was also directed to be communicated to the District Registrar and the other Sub-Registrars within the jurisdiction to ensure compliance. 

"Let this order be communicated by the learned Registrar of this Court to the District Registrar and the other Sub-Registrars within the jurisdiction for compliance", the Court ordered. 

Accordingly, the petition was disposed of by directing the District Registrar to provide a legible copy of the concerned document to the petitioner within 2 weeks upon compliance of all necessary formalities.

Case Title: Ajoy Kumar Singhania v. The State of West Bengal & Ors

Case Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Cal) 86

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