In a major move to modernize the country’s land management system, the Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 has been promulgated.
The ordinance introduces digital "E-Registration" and amends the century-old Registration Act of 1908 to make the process more efficient and transparent.
The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs issued the notification on Thursday (January 1). As the Parliament is currently dissolved, the President issued the ordinance under the powers granted by Article 93(1) of the Constitution.
Key Highlights of the Amendment
1. Introduction of E-Registration
The most significant change is the addition of Part XII(A) and Section 77(A), which provides a legal framework for:
- Submitting and accepting deeds via government-approved software.
- Digital registration of documents.
- Specific rules for this process will be finalized through a government gazette.
2. Extended Deadlines for Registration
The ordinance provides more breathing room for citizens by extending several statutory timelines:
- Deed Registration: The time limit has been increased from 30 days to 60 days.
- Section 26 Requirements: The period mentioned in paragraph (b) has been extended from 4 months to 6 months.
3. Expanded Scope: Hiba and Gifts
Section 52(A) has been modified to include religious gifts under mandatory registration:
Along with sales, declarations of Hiba (under Muslim Sharia law) and Gifts (under Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist personal laws) are now explicitly included.
The term "Seller" in the Act has been expanded to include "or Donor."
4. Accountability for Officials
A new sub-section (3) has been added to Section 68 to curb corruption and negligence:
If a registration officer registers a deed without collecting the proper fees, taxes, or service charges, it will be classified as misconduct.
The uncollected revenue will be personally recovered from the officer in charge.
5. Faster Appeals and Dispute Resolution
New timelines have been set to ensure the public is not left in legal limbo:
- Appeals: Registrars must resolve appeals within 45 days of filing.
- Applications: Certain applications must be settled within 30 days.
Mandatory Upfront Payment
Replacing Section 80, the ordinance now mandates that all fees, taxes, service charges, and duties must be paid at the time of presenting the deed.
The government will soon issue detailed guidelines on the methods of payment and the utilization of service charges.
