SHYAMSUNDAR RADHESHYAM AGRAWAL & ANR.versusPUSHPABAI NILKANTH PATIL & ORS.
- Citation
- 2024 INSC 730
- Decided
- 24 September 2024
- Disposal
- Dismissed
- Bench
- PANKAJ MITHAL
Holding
Agreements for sale that effect transfer of possession are the principal instruments and are liable to stamp duty and penalty, and Section 4 cannot be invoked to avoid this liability.
Summary
The appellants filed a suit for declaration and injunction, after which the defendant sought impoundment of six agreements for sale on the ground that they effected transfer of possession and were therefore conveyances requiring stamp duty and registration. The trial court and the High Court ordered the documents impounded and sent to the Collector for assessment of duty and penalty. The appellants argued that the later sale deed, which was duly stamped, subsumed the earlier agreements, invoking Section 4 of the Maharashtra Stamp Act to treat the sale deed as the principal instrument. The Supreme Court examined the nature of the agreements, noting that each contained a clause handing over possession, thereby qualifying as conveyances under Explanation I to Article 25 of Schedule I, and that the parties had not designated a single principal instrument. Consequently, the Court held that the agreements themselves were the principal documents liable for stamp duty, and Section 4 could not shield the appellants. The appeal was dismissed, affirming the lower courts' orders to stamp and register the agreements and levy appropriate penalties.
Issues considered
- Whether agreements for sale that transfer possession of immovable property prior to execution of a sale deed are liable to stamp duty and penalty under the Maharashtra Stamp Act.
- Whether Section 4 of the Maharashtra Stamp Act allows the later sale deed to be treated as the principal instrument, exempting the earlier agreements from duty.
Legislation cited
- Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958s. 33, s. 34, s. 37, s. 4
- Registration Act, 1908s. 17
- Transfer of Property Act, 1882s. 53A
Subjects
Judgment
[2024] 9 S.C.R. 881 : 2024 INSC 730
Shyamsundar Radheshyam Agrawal & Anr.
v.
Pushpabai Nilkanth Patil & Ors.
(Civil Appeal No. 10804 of 2024)
24 September 2024
[Pankaj Mithal and R. Mahadevan,* JJ.]
Issue for Consideration
Whether the appellants are liable to pay stamp duty and penalty
on the agreements to sell executed prior to the sale deed executed
in their favour.
Headnotes†
Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958 – s.4 and Explanation 1 to
Article 25 of Schedule I – Registration Act, 1908 – s.17 –
Transfer of Property Act, 1882 – s.53A – Appellants instituted
a suit seeking declaration and injunction – Defendant No.46
took out an application u/ss. 33, 34 & 37 of the 1958 Act
r/w. s.17 of the Registration Act, to impound the six original
agreements for sale viz., Exh.145/3 dated 20.07.1994, Exh.145/9
dated 20.07.1994, Exh.145/15 dated 12.10.1994, Exh.145/19
dated 12.10.1994, Exh.145/23 dated 27.04.2006 and Exh.145/25
dated 19.09.2004 produced by the appellants, so as to get
them registered, on the premise that the said documents
include a clause that the physical possession of the properties
mentioned therein, was transferred to the purchasers; however,
they were not duly stamped; and hence, the documents require
the payment of stamp duty of the conveyance – Correctness:
Held: In the instant case, in the documents, though there was a
clause for conveyance between the vendors and purchasers in
relation to the respective properties, the value of the properties were
above Rs.100/- and there was also a clause by which possession
was admittedly handed over on the date of the agreement, implying
acquisition of possessory rights protected under Section 53A of
the Transfer of Property Act, which requires payment of proper
stamp duty and registration as mandated under Section 17 of the
Registration Act – Further, as per Section 4(2) of the Maharashtra
Stamp Act, the parties are at liberty to determine as to which
* Author
882 [2024] 9 S.C.R.
Digital Supreme Court Reports
of the document shall be principal document – As noted, the
agreement for sale consists of a clause whereby the possession
was handed over to the purchaser satisfying the requirement
to treat the instrument as conveyance and what remained was
only the formality of execution of the sale deed – Therefore, it
can be safely concluded that the agreement for sale was the
principal document on which stamp duty was to be paid as per
Article 25 – Even considering the contention of the appellant,
that the sale agreements ultimately concluded in the sale deed
on which stamp duty was paid, would not by ipso facto absolve
the primary liability of paying the appropriate stamp duty at the
time of execution of the sale agreement as it was the principal
document – Therefore, this Court is of the opinion that Section 4
of the Act cannot come to the aid of the appellants – Therefore,
all these six documents ought to have been necessarily stamped
and registered. [Para 14]
Case Law Cited
Veena Hasmukh Jain v. State of Maharashtra [1999] 1 SCR 302 :
(1999) 5 SCC 725 : 1999 SCC Online SC 78 – relied on.
List of Acts
Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958; Registration Act, 1908; Transfer of
Property Act, 1882.
List of Keywords
Stamp Duty; Penalty; Agreement to sell; Physical possession of
properties; Conveyance; Sale deed; Section 4 of Maharashtra
Stamp Act, 1958; Section 17 of Registration Act, 1908;
Section 53 A of Transfer of Property Act, 1882.
Case Arising From
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 10804 of 2024
From the Judgment and Order dated 03.03.2021 of the High Court
of Judicature at Bombay in WP No. 4695 of 2017
Appearances for Parties
Rohan Thawani, C. George Thomas, Ansh Mittal, Advs. for the
Appellants.
[2024] 9 S.C.R. 883
Shyamsundar Radheshyam Agrawal & Anr. v.
Pushpabai Nilkanth Patil & Ors
Abdul Azeem Kalebudde, Dr. Rajiv Masodkar, Satyajeet Kumar,
Anand Dilip Landge, Siddharth Dharmadhikari, Aaditya Aniruddha
Pande, Bharat Bagla, Sourav Singh, Aditya Krishna, Ms. Preet
S. Phanse, Adarsh Dubey, Advs. for the Respondents.
Judgment / Order of the Supreme Court
Judgment
R. Mahadevan, J.
Leave granted.
2. This appeal is filed assailing the final order dated 03.03.2021
passed by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay (hereinafter
shortly referred to as “the High Court”) in Writ Petition No.4695 of
2017, by which, the High Court has dismissed the said writ petition,
thereby affirming the order dated 26.10.2016 passed by the Court
of 4th Joint Civil Judge (Senior Division), Thane, (hereinafter shortly
referred to as “the trial Court”) in allowing the application filed by
the Defendant No.46 for impounding the six documents produced
by the appellants herein.
3. Originally, the appellants instituted a suit in Special Civil Suit No.200
of 2008 seeking declaration and injunction. Denying the plaint
averments, the defendants filed their written statements. Thereafter,
the Defendant No.46 took out an application under Sections 33,
34 & 37 of the Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958 r/w Section 17 of the
Registration Act, to impound the six original agreements for sale
viz., Exh.145/3 dated 20.07.1994, Exh.145/9 dated 20.07.1994,
Exh.145/15 dated 12.10.1994, Exh.145/19 dated 12.10.1994,
Exh.145/23 dated 27.04.2006 and Exh.145/25 dated 19.09.2004
produced by the appellants, so as to get them registered, on the
premise that the said documents include a clause that the physical
possession of the properties mentioned therein, was transferred to
the purchasers; however, they were not duly stamped; and hence, the
documents require the payment of stamp duty of the conveyance. By
order dated 26.10.2016, the trial Court allowed the said application,
thereby impounding the documents and directing to send the same
to the Collector of Stamp, Thane, for adjudication of stamp duty and
penalty, if any, payable by the appellants. Aggrieved by the same,
884 [2024] 9 S.C.R.
Digital Supreme Court Reports
the appellants herein filed the aforesaid writ petition, which was
dismissed by the High Court, by the order impugned in this appeal.
4. Referring to Section 4 of the Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958 (hereinafter
shortly referred to as “the Act”), the learned counsel appearing on
behalf of the appellants contended that the agreements to sell in
relation to the same immovable properties ultimately resulted into
a sale deed in favour of the appellants and the said sale deed was
also duly registered, upon payment of the required stamp duty and
therefore, the prior agreements to sell are not required to be registered
and stamped. Further, one of the agreements in respect of 2.550 sq.
meters of land was executed in favour of Mira Bhayandar Municipal
Corporation and hence, no separate stamp duty is required to be paid
by the appellants. However, misinterpreting the said provision, the
trial Court allowed the application filed for impounding the documents
and directed to send the same to the Collector for adjudication of
stamp duty and penalty, which was also erroneously affirmed by
the High Court.
5. Per contra, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
respondents submitted that on a detailed analysis of the agreements
to sell, wherein, there was a specific clause about the transfer of
physical possession to the purchasers therein, the courts below
have rightly allowed the application filed for impounding these
documents and, therefore, the same need not be interfered with
by this Court.
6. We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the respective
parties and perused the material on record, more particularly, the
documents in question.
7. The issue involved herein is, whether the appellants are liable to
pay stamp duty and penalty on the agreements to sell executed
prior to the sale deed executed in their favour, in respect of two
properties viz., (i) S.No.165/4 admeasuring 2,550 sq. mtrs. and (ii)
S.No.208/3 admeasuring 860 sq. mtrs. and S.No.208/4 admeasuring,
5650 sq. mtrs.
8. In order to determine the stamp duty that is chargeable upon an
instrument, the legal rule is that the real and true meaning of the
instrument is to be determined by ascertaining the intention of the
parties from the contents and the language employed in the whole
[2024] 9 S.C.R. 885
Shyamsundar Radheshyam Agrawal & Anr. v.
Pushpabai Nilkanth Patil & Ors
instrument and the description or the nomenclature given to the
instrument by the parties is immaterial.
9. According to the appellants, the sale deed having been executed in
relation to the same immovable properties and stamp duty having
been paid, the earlier agreements to sell which are part and parcel
of the same transaction, got merged with the said sale deed and
hence, separate stamp duty is not required to be paid on the earlier
agreements to sell. To buttress the same, reliance was placed on
Section 4 of the Act, which is quoted below for ready reference:
“4. Several Instruments used in single transaction of
development agreement, sale, mortgage or settlement:
1) Where, in the case of any development agreement, sale,
mortgage or settlement, several instruments are employed
for completing the transaction, the principal instrument only
shall be chargeable with the duty prescribed in Schedule –
I for the conveyance, development agreement, mortgage
or settlement, and each of the other instruments shall be
chargeable with a duty of one hundred rupees instead of
the duty (if any) prescribed for it in that Schedule.
2) The parties may determine for themselves which of
the instruments so employed shall, for the purposes of
sub-section (1), be deemed to be the principal instrument.
3) If the parties fail to determine the principal instrument
between themselves, then the officer before whom the
instrument is produced may, for the purpose of this section,
determine the principal instrument:
Provided that the duty chargeable on the instrument so
determined shall be the highest duty which would be
chargeable in respect of any of the said instruments
employed.”
10. The aforesaid provision, especially, Section 4(1), makes it clear that
where several instruments are executed for completing a transaction,
the principal instrument alone shall be chargeable with duty prescribed
in Schedule I. The proviso makes it clear that the duty chargeable on
the instrument so determined shall be the highest duty which could
be chargeable in respect of any of the said instruments forming part
of the same transaction. Each of the other instruments is chargeable
886 [2024] 9 S.C.R.
Digital Supreme Court Reports
with a fixed duty. That apart, sub-section (2) also gives an opportunity
to the parties to determine for themselves, which of the instruments
shall be deemed to be the principal instrument. We shall therefore
look into the documents in question and determine whether they are
required to be stamped and registered.
11. The documents sought to be impounded at the instance of one of
the defendants are:
(i) Exh.145/3 dated 20.07.1994 – agreement for sale-cum-
development executed by Vinayak Kashinath Gharat and others
in favour of Naresh N. Jain, Sunita P. Jain and Kalawati N. Jain,
which is on the stamp paper of Rs.20/-;
(ii) Exh.145/9 dated 20.07.1994 – agreement for sale-cum-
development executed by Vinayak Kashinath Gharat and others
in favour of Naresh N. Jain, Sunita P. Jain and Kalawati N. Jain,
which is on the stamp paper of Rs.20/-;
(iii) Exh.145/15 dated 12.10.1994 executed by Naresh N. Jain and
others in favour of M/s.Chedda Enterprises, which is on the
stamp paper of Rs.20/-;
(iv) Exh.145/19 dated 12.10.1994 – agreement for sale-cum-
development executed by Naresh N. Jain and others in favour
of M/s.Chedda Enterprises, which is on the stamp paper of
Rs.20/-;
(v) Exh.145/23 dated 27.04.2006 – agreement for sale executed
by M/s.Sunshine Builders and Developers in favour of the
appellants, which is on the stamp paper of Rs.100/-; and
(vi) Exh.145/25 dated 19.09.2004 – agreement for development
-cum- sale executed by M/s.Sunshine Builders and Developers
in favour of the appellants, which is on the stamp paper of
Rs.100/-.
12. On a reading of all these six documents, it could be seen that the
instruments /documents were not forming part of a single transaction
between the same parties and they were different transactions
between different vendors and purchasers. Further, for several
documents to form part of a single transaction, there must be a
transaction in furtherance of which several other documents are
executed to complete that transaction and then it becomes imperative
[2024] 9 S.C.R. 887
Shyamsundar Radheshyam Agrawal & Anr. v.
Pushpabai Nilkanth Patil & Ors
to charge stamp duty on the principal instrument/document. The
language used in the provision is very clear, whereby the stamp duty
is on the instrument and not on the transaction. It will be useful to
refer to Explanation 1 to Article 25 of Schedule I of the Maharashtra
Stamp Act, which would read as under:
“Explanation I.—For the purposes of this article, where
in the case of agreement to sell an immovable property,
the possession of any immovable property is transferred
or agreed to be transferred to the purchaser before the
execution, or at the time of execution, or after the execution
of such agreement without executing the conveyance
in respect thereof, then such agreement to sell shall be
deemed to be a conveyance and stamp duty thereon shall
be leviable accordingly:
Provided that, the provisions of Section 32-A shall apply
mutatis mutandis to such agreement which is deemed to be
a conveyance as aforesaid, as they apply to a conveyance
under that Section:
Provided further that, where subsequently a conveyance
is executed in pursuance of such agreement of sale, the
stamp duty, if any, already paid and recovered on the
agreement of sale which is deemed to be a conveyance,
shall be adjusted towards the total duty leviable on the
conveyance.”
13. It will be apropos to mention here that the agreements were not only
between different parties but also were executed during different
periods, by which time the Explanation I to Article 25 of Schedule I
underwent a change. The words “without executing the conveyance
in respect thereof” was deleted with effect from 17.08.1994 by
Maharashtra Act 38 of 1994. The above Explanation I makes it lucid
that an agreement for sale is to be treated as a “conveyance” if either
possession is handed over immediately or if it is agreed to be handed
over within a particular time. A reading of the above Explanation I
along with Section 4 makes it clear that the duty is levied only on
the instrument and not on the transaction. This court, in Veena
Hasmukh Jain v. State of Maharashtra (1999) 5 SCC 725 : 1999
SCC Online SC 78 while dealing with the question as to whether
888 [2024] 9 S.C.R.
Digital Supreme Court Reports
the agreement to sell can be treated as document of conveyance,
liable to stamp duty held as follows:
“4. On examination of these terms, the High Court took the
view that the agreement in question could be construed to
be a conveyance falling under Section 2(g) of the Bombay
Stamp Act inasmuch as the right, title and interest in the flat
stands transferred in favour of the purchaser on payment
of instalments as provided therein.
5. The High Court also examined the scope of Explanation I
to Article 25 of Schedule I of the Bombay Stamp Act and
held that the same was attracted to the case. Under
the agreement, there is an obligation to hand over the
possession even before execution of a conveyance and,
therefore, it was a “conveyance” for the purpose of duty
payable under the Bombay Stamp Act and there was no
obligation in the agreement to enter into a conveyance at
a later stage and clearly it was a case which attracted the
said Explanation. Handing over of the possession on the
very date of execution was not relevant for determining
the nature of the document. On that basis, the High Court
upheld the stand taken by the State in the matter of levy
of duty. Other questions raised in the writ petition are not
the subject-matter of these appeals and, therefore, we do
not advert to those questions. On the conclusion reached
by the High Court, the writ petition stood dismissed.
6. The learned counsel appearing for the appellants urged
before us that the conclusion reached by the High Court
either on the question of construction of the agreement
amounting to a “conveyance” or on the applicability of
Explanation I to Article 25 of Schedule I to the Bombay
Stamp Act is incorrect. It was submitted that the agreement
in question had been executed only in terms of Section 4
of the MOF Act and that under the scheme of the Act, a
deed of conveyance had to be drawn in terms of Section 11
thereof. Therefore, it was submitted that the document
executed in terms of Section 4 of the MOF Act cannot
be construed to be a “conveyance”. He also submitted
that under the same Act, duty can be levied only on the
“instrument” and not on any “transaction”. Here, in the
[2024] 9 S.C.R. 889
Shyamsundar Radheshyam Agrawal & Anr. v.
Pushpabai Nilkanth Patil & Ors
present case, by Explanation I to Article 25 of Schedule I,
what has been done is to provide for levy of duty on a
“transaction”, namely, handing over possession and not
on the “instrument” as such and hence the provision is
ultra vires the Constitution.
7. Under Entry 44 of List III-Concurrent List of the Seventh
Schedule to the Constitution, any State as well as the
Central Government can levy stamp duties other than
duties or fees collected by means of judicial stamps, but
not including rates of stamp duty and in respect of such
instruments mentioned in Entry 91 of List I-Union List
of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. A duty is
leviable under Section 3 of the Bombay Stamp Act which
indicates the instruments executed in the State or those
outside the State but brought into the State for the first
time relating to any property situate or to any matter or
thing done or to be done in the State shall be chargeable
to stamp duty prescribed under the Bombay Stamp Act.
Article 25 of Schedule I refers to conveyance and the
amount of conveyance as sought to be explained by the
Explanation. Explanation I to Article 25 of Schedule I to
the Bombay Stamp Act reads as follows:
“Explanation I.—For the purposes of this article, where in
the case of agreement to sell an immovable property, the
possession of any immovable property is transferred to the
purchaser before the execution, or at the time of execution,
or after the execution of such agreement without executing
the conveyance in respect thereof, then such agreement
to sell shall be deemed to be a conveyance and stamp
duty thereon shall be leviable accordingly:
Provided that, the provisions of Section 32-A shall apply
mutatis mutandis to such agreement which is deemed to be
a conveyance as aforesaid, as they apply to a conveyance
under that Section:
Provided further that, where subsequently a conveyance
is executed in pursuance of such agreement of sale, the
stamp duty, if any, already paid and recovered on the
agreement of sale which is deemed to be a conveyance,
890 [2024] 9 S.C.R.
Digital Supreme Court Reports
shall be adjusted towards the total duty leviable on the
conveyance.”
8. The duty in respect of an agreement covered by the
Explanation is leviable as if it is a conveyance. The
conditions to be fulfilled are that if there is an agreement to
sell immovable property and possession of such property
is transferred to the purchaser before the execution or at
the time of execution or subsequently without executing
any conveyance in respect thereof, such an agreement
to sell is deemed to be a “conveyance”. In the event a
conveyance is executed in pursuance of such agreement
subsequently, the stamp duty already paid and recovered
on the agreement of sale which is deemed to be a
conveyance shall be adjusted towards the total duty
leviable on the conveyance. Now, in the present case,
the agreement entered into clearly provides for sale of
an immovable property and there is also a specific time
within which possession has to be delivered. Therefore,
the document in question clearly falls within the scope
of Explanation I. It is open to the legislature to levy duty
on different kinds of agreements at different rates. If the
legislature thought that it would be appropriate to collect
duty at the stage of the agreement itself if it fulfils certain
conditions instead of postponing the collection of such
duty till the completion of the transaction by execution of
a conveyance deed inasmuch as all substantial conditions
of a conveyance have already been fulfilled such as by
passing of a consideration and delivery of possession of the
property and what remained to be done is a mere formality
of execution of a sale deed, it would be necessary to collect
duty at a later (sic agreement) stage itself though right,
title and interest may not have passed as such. Still, by
reason of the fact that under the terms of the agreement,
there is an intention of sale and possession of the property
has also been delivered, it is certainly open to the State to
charge such instruments at a particular rate which is akin
to a conveyance and that is exactly what has been done
in the present case. Therefore, it cannot be said that levy
of duty is not upon the instrument but on the transaction.
[2024] 9 S.C.R. 891
Shyamsundar Radheshyam Agrawal & Anr. v.
Pushpabai Nilkanth Patil & Ors
Therefore, we reject the contention raised on behalf of the
appellants in that regard.
9. The learned counsel for the appellants urged that the
character of an instrument cannot be determined by reason
of a subsequent event to take place such as handing over
of possession. But a close examination of the provisions
of the Explanation will make it clear that in the case of
an agreement to sell immovable property possession is
transferred at any time without executing the conveyance
in respect thereof and such an instrument is deemed to be
a “conveyance”. The object of the Explanation is clear that
if an agreement is entered into and that agreement itself
contemplates the delivery of possession of the property
within the stipulated time, then such an agreement should
be deemed to be a conveyance for the purpose of duty
leviable under the Bombay Stamp Act.
10. It is clear that the object of the Stamp Act is to levy stamp
duty on different kinds of instruments. The legislature, in the
present case, has chosen to levy a rate of duty equivalent
to conveyance in respect of an agreement though the
transaction may not have been completed because of
certain instruments arising out of such agreement being
executed and possession thereof being taken prior to or
simultaneous with the document or subsequently. But in
the Explanation, it is not clear that if the document provides
that possession has to be taken without execution of the
conveyance, certainly it would attract the appropriate duty.
If the agreement provides that possession will be handed
over on the execution of a conveyance as contemplated
under Section 11 of the MOF Act, then the Explanation
shall not be attracted at all. In the present case, it is clear
that in the terms of the agreement, there is no provision
made at all for execution of the conveyance. On the other
hand, what is submitted is that the provisions of the MOF
Act could be applied to the agreement and, therefore, a
conveyance could be executed subsequently when it is
not clear as to when the conveyance is to be executed
and the stipulated time within which the possession has to
be handed over. If that is so, it is clear that the document
892 [2024] 9 S.C.R.
Digital Supreme Court Reports
would attract duty as if it is a conveyance as provided in
the Explanation. Thus we find no error in the view taken
by the High Court. It is not necessary to examine in these
appeals as to whether the instrument in question itself
conveys a title or not. Therefore, we uphold the decision
of the High Court made in this regard. The appeals are
dismissed.”
14. In the instant case, in the documents, though there was a clause for
conveyance between the vendors and purchasers in relation to the
respective properties, the value of the properties were above Rs.100/-
and there was also a clause by which possession was admittedly
handed over on the date of the agreement, implying acquisition of
possessory rights protected under Section 53A of the Transfer of
Property Act, which requires payment of proper stamp duty and
registration as mandated under Section 17 of the Registration Act.
Further, as per Section 4(2) of the Maharashtra Stamp Act, the parties
are at liberty to parties to determine as to which of the document
shall be principal document. As noted above, the agreement for sale
consists of a clause whereby the possession was handed over to
the purchaser satisfying the requirement to treat the instrument as
conveyance and what remained was only the formality of execution
of the sale deed. Therefore, it can be safely concluded that the
agreement for sale was the principal document on which stamp duty
was to be paid as per Article 25. Even considering the contention of
the appellant, that the sale agreements ultimately concluded in the
sale deed on which stamp duty was paid, would not by ipso facto
absolve the primary liability of paying the appropriate stamp duty at
the time of execution of the sale agreement as it was the principal
document. Therefore, we are of the opinion that Section 4 of the Act
cannot come to the aid of the appellants. Therefore, all these six
documents ought to have been necessarily stamped and registered.
15. Taking note of the facts and circumstances of the case and legal
position, the trial Court rightly observed that the subsequent sale
deed cannot be construed as a principal transaction and the
agreements to sell would be treated as the principal conveyance as
per Explanation I of Article 25 of Schedule-I of the Act and impounded
all these documents and directed to send the same to the Collector
for adjudication of stamp duty and penalty. After, a detailed analysis,
[2024] 9 S.C.R. 893
Shyamsundar Radheshyam Agrawal & Anr. v.
Pushpabai Nilkanth Patil & Ors
the High Court held that no case for interference was made out by
the appellants, which, we affirm, to be correct.
16. In addition, we wish to further record that the second proviso to
Article 25 only states that if the stamp duty is already paid or recovered
on the agreement to sale, then the same shall be deducted while
computing the stamp duty payable when the sale deed is executed;
the proviso does not contemplate a situation similar to this case,
where the document ought to have been registered with payment of
stamp duty on the agreement for sale initially and only the balance,
on the deed of sale after deduction of the duty already paid ought
to have been collected. Since, the state cannot recover by way of
stamp duty in excess of what it is entitled to, the recovery shall
be restricted only to the extent of difference in stamp duty and the
entire penalty from the date of execution of the agreement for sale
till the date of payment of stamp duty. Needless to say, that until the
defect is cured by satisfying the requirements under Section 34, the
documents impounded cannot also be used in evidence.
17. In view thereof, we find no reason to interfere with the orders passed
by the Courts below. Accordingly, this appeal fails and is dismissed.
Pending application(s), if any, shall stand closed.
Result of the Case: Appeal dismissed.
†
Headnotes prepared by: Ankit Gyan
Search Indian case law
Ask in plain English, not just keywords. 25,000 AI words free, no card.