The scope and purport of identification of the

party by a Registering Officer to register a power

of attorney or any document is called in question in

this writ petition.

2.

A Singapore citizen of Indian origin is

having an ancestral property in India. The Singapore

citizen executed a power of attorney with an

authority to transfer the immovable property in

India. This power of attorney is a compulsory

registerable document under Section 17(1)(g) of Part

III of the Registration Act, 1908 as amended by Act

31 of 2013. The power of attorney has been executed

in favour of an Indian citizen. He presented the

power of attorney for registration.

3.

The Registering Authority noting the mandate

of Rule 72A of the Registration Rules (Kerala)

insisted production of any of documents as referred

in Rule 72A for identification of executant of power

of attorney who is a foreign national. These

WP(C)No9747/2019 3

documents are Pan card, ration card, identity card

or like documents issued by the Government or any

authority controlled by the Government. Admittedly,

Singapore citizen does not have any such cards as

referable under Rule 72A. The Registering