1. The petitioners assail the proceedings dated 19.04.2010 issued by the Commissioner, Endowments Department, Andhra Pradesh, to various Registration Authorities in Chittoor District indicating the particulars of immovable properties allegedly belonging to Sri Hathi Ramji Math, Tirupati and Sri Bugga Math, Tirupati and requesting the Registration Authorities to desist from entertaining registration of documents in connection with these properties. This communication was ostensibly issued under Section 22-A (1)(c) of the Registration Act, 1908 (for short ‘the Act of 1908’).

2. It is the complaint of the petitioners that basing on this communication, the Joint Sub-Registrar-I, Tirupati, refused to receive the documents presented by them in respect of their lands in Survey No.242/B of Tirupati Village, Tirupati Urban Mandal, Chittoor District, as the said lands were indicated in the list appended to the proceedings dated 19.04.2010 as properties of Sri Hathi Ramji Math, Tirupati.

3. Despite service of notice through the learned counsel for the petitioners, there is no representation on behalf of Sri Hathi Ramji Math, Tirupati, the second respondent in the writ petition.

4. In his counter, the Joint Sub-Registrar-I, Tirupati, stated that the subject lands were classified as properties belonging to the Endowments Department as per the proceedings dated 19.04.2010 received from the Commissioner of the Endowments Department. He opined that registration of documents pertaining to the subject lands was prohibited under Section 22-A(1)(c) of the Act of 1908.He further stated that as long as the lands were included in the list of Endowment properties, he had no option except to refuse registration of the documents pertaining thereto.

5. Section 22-A of the Act of 1908, to the extent relevant, reads as under:

“22-A. Prohibition of registration of certain documents:

(1) The following classes of documents shall be prohibited from registration, namely:-

(a) .. . . . . . . .

(b) . . . . . . . .

(c) documents relating to transfer of property by way of sale, agreement of sale, gift, exchange or lease exceeding (ten) 10 years in respect of immovable property, owned by Religious and Charitable Endowments falling under the purview of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987 or by Wakfs falling under the Wakfs Act, 1995 executed by persons other than those statutorily empowered to do so;

(d) . . . . . . .

(e) any documents or class of documents pertaining to the properties the State Government may, by notification prohibit the registration in which avowed or accrued interests of Central and State Governments, local bodies, educational, cultural, Religious and Charitable Institutions, those attached by Civil, Criminal Revenue Courts and Direct and Indirect Tax Laws and other which are likely to adversely affect these interests.

(2) For the purpose of clause (e) of sub-section (1), the State Government shall publish a notification after obtaining reasons for and full description of properties furnished by the District Collectors concerned in the manner as may be prescribed.”

6. A bare reading of the above provision makes it clear that the prohibition contemplated by clause (c) of sub-section (1) of Section 22-A of the Act of 1908 relates to the status of the executant of the document relating to properties owned by Religious/Charitable/Endowment/Wakf institutions. Registration of documents executed by other than those statutorily empowered to do so in respect of such properties is prohibited thereunder. The said provision pre-supposes the title of the institution over the land and merely prohibits registration of documents executed by those without authority. Therefore, the only list that could be communicated under this provision would be a the list of those designated persons who have power and authority to execute documents on behalf of the Religious/Charitable/Endoment/Wakf institutions and n