The District Registrar has no jurisdiction to adjudicate civil disputes in respect of the claim of title or ownership of the property.

The order passed by the District Registrar (Administration), Thiruppur District in proceedings dated 21.9.2015 in respect of the application submitted by the writ petitioners to adjudicate their property rights, is under challenge in this writ petition.

2. The learned counsel Mr. A. Raghu Raman, appearing on behalf of the writ petitioners, strenuously contended that the writ petitioners have been deprived of their property right on account of certain fraudulent activities of the respondents. It is further contended that the transactions were carried out behind the back of the writ petitioners despite the fact that they have got right over the property.

3. The learned Special Government Pleader, appearing on behalf of the respondents 1 to 3, opposed the said contention of the learned counsel for the writ petitioners, by stating that the order of the District Registrar, which is impugned in the writ petition, that all the allegations set out in the complaint by the writ petitioners are in relation to the title, ownership and possession of an immovable property and therefore, the District Registrar cannot conduct an enquiry in respect of the civil disputes existing between the parties. Thus, the District Registrar directed the writ petitioners to approach the competent Civil Court.

4. The learned counsel, appearing on behalf of respondents 4 to 12, also opposed the contentions raised on behalf of the writ petitioners by stating that the writ petitioners have no legal right in respect of the property, which is described in the present writ petition. However, the parties have already filed a civil suit in O.S.No.56 of 2018, which is pending before the learned II Additional District Judge, Thiruppur, wherein the writ petitioners are also parties. Thus, all the issues in relation to the title, ownership and possession or otherwise can be adjudicated by the respective parties by submitting their documents and by adducing evidences.

5. This Court is of an opinion that the District Registrar is empowered to adjudicate in respect of the registration of a fraudulent document or impersonation. However, the District Registrar of Registration Department has no jurisdiction or competency to adjudicate the civil disputes in respect of the claim of title or ownership of the property. Thus, there is no infirmity in respect of the order passed by the District Registrar, which is impugned in this writ petition.

6. This apart, the civil dispute is now pending before the competent Civil Court of Law in O.S.No.56 of 2018, wherein the writ petitioners are also parties. Thus, the writ petitioners are at liberty to set out all their grievances in the civil suit pending before the competent Civil Court of Law for effective adjudication.

7. In this view of the matter, the order passed by the District Registrar, in proceedings dated 21.9.2015, is confirmed. Accordingly, the writ petition stands dismissed. However, there shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is also dismissed.