Registration Authorities cannot question court-determined property valuations under Section 47-A of the Indian Stamp Act, as it undermines judicial authority.

JUDGMENT :

This is an appeal filed by the appellant under Section 47-A(10) of the Indian Stamp Act (for short, the Act) aggrieved by the order passed by the first respondent in Na.Ka.No.35225/N1/2016 dated 23.9.2019 confirming the order of the second respondent in Na.Ka. Cpa.No.3/15/A1 dated 24.6.2019, directing the appellant to pay the deficit stamp duty and the additional registration charges.

2. The brief facts leading to filing of this appeal are as follows :

(i) The subject property was originally owned by a trust called as Sathyanarayana Charitable Trust. The said trust approached this Court earlier by filing O.P.No.314 of 2004 seeking for sanction of sale of the subject property. During the pendency of the said original petition, a paper publication was effected by order dated 25.6.2004 and no offer was forthcoming.

(ii) Therefore, when the said original petition came up for hearing on 01.7.2011, this Court directed fresh paper publication to be effected so as to enable the interested parties to inspect the subject property and make their offer. Accordingly, the paper publication was effected on 15.7.2011. Consequent upon the same, two offers came to be submitted before this Court and the matter was listed for hearing on 02.8.2011. The two offers that were submitted in sealed covers were opened in the open court, in which, the first offerer was the appellant in this case. Yet another person also made an offer. However, the second offerer withdrew the offer and as a result, this Court directed the appellant to get instructions and to improve the offer made by them.

(iii) In the meantime, some of the legal heirs of the founder of the said trust started claiming right and interest over the subject property and applications were filed on the Original Side of this Court. Ultimately, the matter reached the Division Bench of this Court in O.S.A.No.201 of 2012 filed by the said trust. The said original side appeal was allowed by a Division Bench of this Court by judgment dated 16.8.2012 by making it clear that there was no impediment to proceed with the sale of the subject property.

(iv) Pursuant to the said developments, a final order came to be passed in O.P.No.314 of 2004 on 18.2.2013. It will be relevant to extract the relevant portions of the order dated 18.2.2013, which dealt with the value that was fixed by this Court, as hereunder :

"Issue (ii):

16.1. Insofar as valuation is concerned, Ex.P3 is the original valuation report submitted by P.W.1. In the said report, while stating that the property is situated in a posh residential locality, it is also stated that the building is 75 year old structure. The guideline value for the land was taken from internet at Rs.8,400/- per Sq.Ft. and the fair market rate was fixed at Rs.12,450/- per Sq.Ft. For determining the fair market rate, reference is made to the sale document No.2289 of 2009, dated 12.11.2009 on the file of the Sub Registrar Office, Mylapore, which is relating to a property situated at 9th Street, R.K.Salai. It is stated that the said property is a short distance away from the main thoroughfare. No doubt, insofar as location of the property is concerned, the same may be comparable, but in the present case the valuation report does not take into consideration the size of the road, which is only 30 Ft. Moreover, the land is locked in a high security zone not easily accessible. It is also to be noted that the property is situate in a residential area and therefore valuation on commercial lines cannot be resorted to.

16.2. The Registered Architect, who has given a report on 11.2.2013 as per the direction of the Court, has clearly stated that certain provisions of the Development Regulations for Chennai Metropolitan Area make it difficult for using the property for commercial purposes. He also states that the property can be partially utilized for construction of an ordinary type of building. It is also to be noticed that access to the property is only from one side and all othe