Kerala Document Writers License Rules, 1960

(Updated in 2025) As Amended by Noti. No. IGR/91/2025-L1 published in K. G. Ext. No. 1265 dt. 29/03/2025 - Amendment in Rule 7 Noti. No. L1-3006/2017 dt. 01/03/2025 - Amendments in SCHEDULE K.G.Ext. No. 3844, dt. 15/11/2022.- Amendment in Rule 7. K.G.Ext No. 714, dt. 29/02/2020. - Amendment in Rule 11. K.G.Ext No.22 , dt. 31/05/2016. - Amendment in Rule 6. K.G.Ext No.519, dt. 01/03/2016. - Amendments in Rule 5 and Rule 25. K.G.Ext. No. 1572 dt. 29/08/2009. NOTIFICATION No.L.2103/57. Dated, Trivandrum, 16th May, 1960. In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (bb) of sub-section (1) of Section 69 of the Indian Registration Act, 1908 (XVI of 1908) the Inspector-General of Registration hereby makes the following Rules with the approval of Government, as required by sub-section (2) of the said Section, namely:--

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S.14 Duties of Scribes.--

A Scribe shall --

(a) write neatly, legibly and correctly;

(b) obey the conditions of the license granted to him.

S.15 Document Writer as Scribe.--

A Document Writer may on payment of the fee therefor apply for and obtain a Scribe's License also provided he writes a neat and legible hand.

S.16 List of Document Writers to be Published.--

The license numbers and the full name of Document Writers for the whole State, and the District and the Sub District concerned, shall be published on the Notice Board in each Sub Registry Office.

S.17 Documents how written.--

Every Document Writer and Scribe shall obey the directions that may from time to time be issued by the Licensing Authority with regard to the use of Stamp Papers and other papers in the preparation of documents for registration.

S.18 Attestation of Documents.--

Every non-testamentary document prepared by a Document Writer and Transcribed by a Scribe shall be attested by them in the following manner:--

Prepared by (Name in full with License No. of the Licensed Document Writer and Signature)

Transcribed by (Name in full with License No. of the Licensed Scribe and Signature)

Note.-- In the case of type written or printed document an attestation by a Scribe is not necessary.

S.19 Registers.--

A Document Writer shall maintain:--

(1) a Register in Form E and

(2) a Receipt Book with counterfoil in Form F and shall give receipts for all moneys received on account of work connected with every document prepared by him.

S.20 Inspection of Records.--

The Register and Receipt Book shall at all times be open to inspection by the Officers of the Department who shall initial them after inspection. The license shall also be produced for inspection on demand by the District Registrar and the Licensing Authority.

S.21 Licensing Authority.--

¹[The Deputy Director of Registration (Licensing) attached to the Office of the Director of Registration shall be the Licensing Authority for the purpose of these rules.]

S.22 Powers and duties of Licensing Authority.--

The Licensing Authority shall have power to --

(a) grant licenses to Document Writers and Scribes;

(b) renew licenses;

(c) cancel, revoke or suspend licenses granted under the rules;

(d) issue to the Document Writers or Scribes such directions as may be necessary for effectively carrying out the purposes of these rules.

S.23

¹[(i) The Deputy Director of Registration (Licensing) attached to the Office of the Inspector General of Registration shall be competent to renew the State Licenses.]

²[(ii) A District Registrar shall be competent to renew the license for his District and also the license for two or more sub districts within his District.

(iii) A Sub Registrar shall be competent to renew the license for his Sub-district]

S.24

The Licensing Authority shall keep the following Registers.

(1) a Register in Form 'G' for Document Writers; and

(2) a Register in Form 'H' for Scribes.

S.25 Document Writers Licensing Test.--

(1) An examination to be called "The Document Writers' Licensing Test" shall be conducted by the Licensing Authority ¹[x x x x]. The time and place of the examination and the language in which the candidates will be examined shall be notified in the Gazette:

²[Provided that the period of time specified in this sub-rule to conduct an examination shall not be applicable in the case of the Document Writer's Licensing Test conducted on behalf of the qualified scribe licensees specified in the proviso to sub-rule (1) of Rule 27 and such a test shall be conducted within such times as the State Government may direct]

(2) The test shall consist of an examination in the Stamp and Registration Laws and also in conveyancing or the Drafting of Documents and any other subject, which may be prescribed by the Licensing Authority.

(3) The test shall be conducted at such times and in such manner as may be notified in the Gazette.

(4) An Examination f

S.26 Scribes Test.--

(1) The Licensing Authority may conduct a Scribes' Test at such times and in such manner as he may determine. The date and place of the test shall be notified in the Gazette.

(2) the test shall relate to the transcription of documents.

(3) An examination fee of ¹[Rs. 100] shall be levied on each application for admission to the Scribes' Test.

S.27 Qualifications.--

¹[(1) A pass in SSLC Examination or its equivalent shall be the minimum qualification for admission to the Document Writers' Licensing Test: ²[ x x x x]

³[Provided that a scribe licensee who has not passed SSLC or its equivalent and has continuously practiced as such for a period of ten years as on the date of commencement of the Kerala Document Writer's License (Amendment) Rules, 2011, after obtaining the Scribe Licence shall be eligible for admission to the Document Writer's Licensing Test which may be conducted as a one time measure, irrespective of the aforesaid qualification and subject to the condition that the fact of such continuous practice shall be certified by the Sub-Registrar through whom he submits his application for the test.]

(2) A study up to SSLC or its equivalent shall be the minimum qualification for admission to the Scribes' ^Test.4[x x x x]

(3) A candidate applying for the Document Writers' or Scr

S.28 Application.--

Application for admission to the Document Writers' Licensing Test or the Scribes' Test shall be sent to such authority in such manner, and in such form as may be notified in the Gazette.

S.29 Issue of Certificate.--

(1) Certificate shall be issued by the Licensing Authority to the candidates who have passed in the Document Writers' Licensing Test or the Scribe Test.

(2) If a Certificate issued under sub-rule (1) is lost or destroyed a duplicate certificate may on adequate proof of such loss or destruction, be issued to the applicant on payment of fine of Rupees one hundred.

(3) The duplicate certificate shall be issued to all the applicants without any time limit.]

S.30 Suspension of Document Writers License.--

A license granted under these rules to a Document Writer may be suspended if he,--

(i) fails to maintain the registers and to issue receipts regularly as required by Rule 19;

(ii) has acted as a tout

(iii) contravenes any of the provisions of these rules or any of the conditions of his license or is found guilty of disobedience to any lawful order passed under these rules;

(iv) is found guilty of any abetment of or participation in any illegal transaction or dealings with the staff attached to the Registration Offices;

¹[(v) conducts or behaves himself improperly in the Registration Office.]

S.31 Cancellation of Document Writers License.--

A license granted under these rules to a Document Writer may be cancelled if ;--

(1) his license has been suspended three times during the course of two consecutive years;

Provided that where the suspension of the license is for demanding or receiving fees in excess of the amounts specified in the Schedule of fees, the license may be cancelled if it has been suspended twice during the course of two consecutive years.

(2) he becomes disqualified on any of the grounds specified in Rule 7.

S.32 Suspension of license for improper conduct or misbehaviour.--

(1) A license granted under these rules may be suspended for improper conduct or misbehaviour of the holder of the license in the Registration Office;--

(a) ²[x x x x]

(b) by the District Registrar, for not more than three months at a time;

(c) ³[by the Deputy Director of Registration (Zone), for not more than six months at a time]

(2) Appeals from an order of suspension under sub-rule (1) shall lie to the Inspector General of Registration.]

S.33 Power of the Licensing Authority regarding licenses.--

The licensing authority may suspend any license granted under these rules for any period or may cancel any such licence.

S.34 Appeals.--

An appeal shall lie to the Government from any order of suspension or cancellation of a Document Writers' license issued under these rules.

S.35

"The Travancore-Cochin Document Writers' Licence Rules 1955" are hereby repealed:

Provided that any order made or action taken under the Rules so repealed shall be deemed to have been made or taken under the corresponding provisions of these rules.

S.SCHEDULE OF FEES

1[SCHEDULE OF FEES
(See Rule 13)
1.	Document Writers’ Fees	Maximum Fees In Rupees
i.	When the value of the consideration specified in the document does not exceed Rs. 7,500 :	550
ii.	When such value exceeds Rs. 7,500 but does not exceed Rs. 12,500 :	700
iii	When such value exceeds Rs. 12,500 but does not exceed Rs.20,000 :	800
iv	When such value exceeds Rs. 20,000 but does not exceed Rs. 30,000 :	950
v

S.FORM A

FORM A
(See Rule 8)
APPLICATION FOR DOCUMENT WRITERS’ LICENSE
1. Full name, with lather’s (Mother’s or Karanavan’s) name. Address:-- Permanent Home Address. Local Address with full details of House name.
2. Name (if any), Kara, Taluk, Municipal, House No. in town and Census No. in other cases.
3. Age and Date of birth
4. Caste or Nationality
5. Educational qualifications i

S.FORM B

FORM B
(See Rule 8)
APPLICATION FOR SCRIBES’ LICENSE
1. Full name, with father’s (Mother’s or Karanavan’s) name. Address:-- Permanent Home Address. Local Address with full details of House name.
2. Name (if any), Kara, Village, Taluk, Municipal, House No. in town and Census No. in other cases.
3. Age and Date of birth
4. Caste or Nationality
5. Educational qualifications

S.FORM C

1[FORM C
(See Rule 10)
(State Emblem)
GOVERNMENT OF KERALA
Registration Department
DOCUMENT WRITERS’ LICENSE
(Issued under Rule 10 of the Kerala Document Writers' License Rules, 1960)
Name of Licensee.........................................................................................

S.FORM D

1[FORM D
(See Rule 10)
(State Emblem)
GOVERNMENT OF KERALA
Registration Department
SCRIBES’ LICENSE
(Issued under Rule 10 of the Kerala Document Writers' License Rules, 1960)
Name of Licensee..........................................................

S.FORM E

FORM E
(See Rule 19)
Register of Documents
Prepared in the Office of (Name of Document Writer) ................................................... Holder of License No.............................................. attached to the office of .............................................
Serial number	Date	Name of Party (Executant or claimant) of the deed	Name of document

S.FORM F

FORM F
(See Rule 19)
Station ...................................... Date ..........................
No ..................................
Received from ......................................................................... the sum of Rs. .......................................... (in words) ..................................................... it has been dealt with as shown hereunder
(a) Value of	(a) Stamp paper (b) Other paper } if purchased through him	Rs.
FORM G
(See Rule 24)
Register of Document Writer's License
Serial No.	License No.	Date	Name of Licensee	Address	Licence valid for		Remarks posting of renewals with date
					Whole State	District

S.FORM H

FORM H
(See Rule 24)
Register of Scriber's License
Serial No.	License No.	Date	Name of Licensee	Address	Licence valid for		Remarks posting of renewals with date
					Whole State	One distr

S.FORM I

FORM I
[See Rule 10(4)]
APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL OF DOCUMENT WRITERS' SCRIBERS' LICENCE
1. Full name, with father's (Mother's or Karanavan's name)
2. Address: Permanent Home Address, Local Address with full details of House name. (if any), Kara, Pakuthy, Taluk, Muncipal, House No. in town and Census No. in other case.
3. Changes in Local Address (to be specified with details as column 2)
4. Details of Licence No.
5. Period for which renewal is sought
6.

S.Kerala Document Writers' License (Amendment) Rules, 2025 All Amendments incorporated at appropriate place

Registration Department

NOTIFICATION

No. L1-3006/2017

Dated, Thiruvananthapuram, 28th February, 2025
16th Kumbham, 1200.

In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (bb) of sub-section (1) of section 69 of the Registration Act, 1908 (Central Act XVI of 1908) the Inspector General of Registration hereby make the following rules further to amend the Kerala Document Writers’ License Rules, 1960 issued in notification No. L.2103/57 dated 16th May, 1960 and published in the Kerala Gazette No. 22 dated 31st May, 1960 with the approval of the Government of Kerala as required by

S.Kerala Document Writers Licence (Amendment) Rules, 2025 All Amendments incorporated at appropriate place

REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT

NOTIFICATION

No. IGR/91/2025-L1

Dated, Thiruvananthapuram,

28th February, 2025

16th Kumbham, 1200.

In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (bb) of sub-section (1) of Section 69 of the Registration Act, 1908, (Central Act XVI of 1908), the Inspector General of Registration, hereby make the following rules, further to amend the Kerala Document Writers Licence Rules, 1960, issued under notification No. L.2103/57, dated, 16th May, 1960 and published in the Kerala Gazette No. 22 dated, 31st May, 1960, with the appro

S.1 Short title.--

These rules may be called the Kerala Document Writers' License Rules, 1960.

S.2 Commencement.--

These rules shall come into force in the Travancore-Cochin area of the State from 1st June 1960 and in the Malabar District referred to in Section 5(2) of the S. R. Act, 1956 (C.A.37 of 1956) on such date as may be notified by the Government.

S.3 Definition.--

In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,

(1) "Document Writer" means and includes one who is engaged in the profession of preparing documents, namely doing the work of conveyancing, including investigation of title, preparation of draft-deeds and engrossing the deed on stamp paper for registration.

(2) "Form" means a form appended to these rules.

(3) "License" means a Document Writers' License or a Scribe's License granted under these rules.

(4) "Licensing Authority" means the licensing authority specified in Rule 21.

(5) "Scribe" means one who assists a document-writer in the preparation of documents and who transcribes the documents (including copies if any) to be presented for registration.

S.4 Prohibition of unlicenced persons.--

No person who is not licenced under these rules shall engage himself in the profession of a Document Writer or Scribe:

Provided that no advocate or pleader practising before any Court in the State shall be required to take out a Document Writers'Licence.

S.5 Licenses to whom granted.--

Subject to the provisions of these rules,

(A) A Document Writers' License may be granted to:

¹[x x x x]

²[(1)) Any person who has passed the Document Writers' Licensing Test.

²[(2)] Any person who on 1st April 1951 was in possession of a Document Writers' License granted to him under the Travancore Document Writers' License Rules, 1121.

²[(3)] Any person who is in possession of a Document Writers' License granted to him under the Travancore-Cochin Document Writers' License Rules, 1955.

²[(4)] Any other person who proves to the satisfaction of the Licensing Authority that he has been in continuous practice as Document Writer in Travancore or as a Scribe in the Travancore area for a period of not less than 5 years immediately preceding 1st January 1955 or as a Document Writer in the Malabar area for a period of not less than 5 years immediately preceding the date of commencement of these r

S.6 Non-testamentary documents1[other than documents registerable in Book 4] are to be prepared by licenced persons only.--

(1) Every such non-testamentary document presented for registration shall be prepared by a document writer, licensed in this behalf, by the Licensing Authority:

Provided that no licence will be necessary in the case of a document writer who is an Advocate or Pleader practising before any Court in the State.

(2) No such non-testamentary document shall be accepted for registration unless it is attested by the document writer and the Scribe if any:

Provided that the provisions of this rule shall not apply to documents executed by or on behalf of or in favour of the Government of India, or Government of a State in India or Local Authorities and other bodies corporate, and institutions which may by notification in the Gazette be specified by Government in this behalf:

²[Provided further that the provisions of this rule shall not apply to documents prepared by executants themselves or claimant himself.

Explanation:-- For the

S.7 Disqualification.--

A license shall not be granted to a person:--

(a) If he is a minor;

(b) if he has been declared by Competent Court to be of unsound mind;

(c) if he is an undischarged insolvent or being a discharged insolvent has not obtained from the Court which adjudged him as insolvent, a Certificate that his insolvency was caused by misfortune without any misconduct on his part;

(d) in the case of an Advocate or Pleader, if he has been dismissed or is under suspension, from practising as such by order of any Competent Court;

(e) if he has been convicted by a Criminal Court for an offence involving moral turpitude before the expiry of three years from the date of conviction or before the expiry of the period of sentence whichever period expires later;

³[x x x x]

²[x x x x]

(h) in the case of a retired officer, if his retirement had been the result of misconduct;

(i) if his license has at any time been cancelled a

S.8 Application for license.--

(1) An application for a Document Writers' License shall be in Form A, that for a Scribe's License in Form B and that for a renewal in Form I.

(2) Printed copies of the Forms of application may be obtained from the Office of the Licensing Authority if the applicant sends a correctly addressed and duly stamped post cover.

S.9 Mode of Application.--

(1) Application for Document Writers' License or for a Scribes' License or for a renewal thereof, shall be presented in person or by Agent or sent by registered post to the Sub Registrar under whose jurisdiction the applicant resides or to whose Office he desires to be attached primarily.

(2) All applications received by the Sub-Registrar shall be forwarded with his remarks to the Registrar of the District, who shall forward such of those applications, which he is not competent to renew under Rule 23, to the Inspector of Registration Offices concerned or the Licensing Authority, as the case may be with his recommendations.

S.10 Issue of License.--

(1) Licenses granted by the Licensing Authority will be issued through the Sub Registrar to whom the application for license was sent or presented.

(2) The Document Writers' License shall be in Form C and the Scribes' License shall be in Form D.

(3) If a license is lost or destroyed, a duplicate may on adequate proof of such loss or destruction, be issued to the licensee on payment of a fine of ¹[Rupees Five each.)

(4) (a) ²[Any license issued to a Document Writer or Scribe shall be in force only till the first day of June every year, subject to renewal before that date for a period of three years, such renewal being made either by endorsement on the license or by issue of a certificate of renewal of the Licensing Authority, on an application of the license holder in Form I.]

³[(aa) The applications for renewal should be made to the concerned Sub Registrars on or before the 1st day of March of every year:]

S.11 Fees.--

Fee at the following rates shall be levied on the application for Document Writers' and Scribes' Licenses and for their triennial renewals.

	Document Writer's License	Scribe's License
Fee for one Sub District	Rs. 100	Rs. 50
Fee for one District	Rs. 200	Rs. 100
Fee for the Whole State	Rs. 1000	Rs. 500
	Document Writer's License renewal	Scribe's License renewal
Fee for one Sub District	Rs. 100	Rs. 50
Fee for one District

S.12 Remittance of Fees.--

(1) The License and other fees shall be paid in cash to the Sub Registrar concerned and receipt obtained from him. The Sub Registrar shall credit the fees so collected in his Account B and issue receipt to the remitter and remit the amount in to the Treasury under the proper Budget Head.]

(2) If the license or renewal thereof if refused, the fee remitted shall be refunded to the applicant.

S.13 Conditions attached to the Document Writers License.--

The following conditions shall be deemed to be attached to the Document Writers' License.--

(a) That the Licensee shall abide by the rules relating to the licensing of Document Writers.

(aa) That he shall not demand or receive any fees in excess of the amount specified in the Schedule of fees appended to these rules, for the services rendered by him as Document Writer and for the services rendered by any Scribe attached to his Office.

(aaa) That he shall exhibit the Schedule of fees in a conspicuous place in his Office, in the regional language:

Provided that in the case of an existing license, conditions (aa) and (aaa) shall apply to only from the date of its renewal.

(b) That he shall maintain the Registers, Receipt Books and other records prescribed by these rules to be maintained or required to be maintained by the Licensing Authority from time to time.

(c) That he shall not demand or receive any sum from parties in the name or any