![ T. Damodaran v Choe Kuan Him [1972] 2 MLJ
267:
“The whole purpose of the system is to get
away form the complicated system of rules
which in England regulate dealings with
land, particularly those relating to such
matters as notice of encumbrances…”](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/ll1slidesregistrationofdealings2014-140406222703-phpapp02/85/LAND-LAW-1-slides-registration-of-dealings-2014-10-320.jpg)
LAND LAW 1 slides registration of dealings 2014
- 2. “Dealings” definition in section 5 Any transaction with respect to alienated land Effected under the powers conferred under Division IV Does not include any caveat or prohibitory order.
- 3. Division IV: 1. Transfer 2. Lease and tenancy 3. Charge and lien 4. Easement
- 4. S 205 (1) Dealings capable of being registered are those in Parts Fourteen to Seventeen only, i.e.: 1. Transfers 2. Leases 3. Charges 4. Easements No title or interest in land will be created until the instruments affecting these dealings have been registered.
- 5. Dealings not capable of registration: 1. Tenancies exempt from registration (TER) 2. Liens
- 6. Section 206(1) Every dealing shall be effected by the relevant instrument prescribed for that purpose. Must be properly registered. Must comply with SS 207-212. F 14A-17C (1st schedule NLC)
- 7. Execution of instrument of dealings. S 210 By the parties, or Person acting under power of attorney. Signing or affixing thumbprint. Attestation S 211
- 9. Torrens system: a land administration system based on registration Registration the cornerstone of the Torrens system. Title/interest by registration To overcome the defects of the Deeds system.
- 10. T. Damodaran v Choe Kuan Him [1972] 2 MLJ 267: “The whole purpose of the system is to get away form the complicated system of rules which in England regulate dealings with land, particularly those relating to such matters as notice of encumbrances…”
- 11. Teh Bee v K Maruthamuthu: The New Zealand case of Fels v Knowles was quoted: “Under theTorrens system, the register is everything”.
- 12. Frazer vWalker: The court laid down the principle that the Torrens system was intended to provide immunity of the registered proprietor from adverse claims.
- 13. Sections 205-207 S 205: Dealings capable of being effected. S 206: Dealings must be effected by a proper instrument of dealing, must be registered. No need to registerTER and lien. S 207: Instrument of dealing shall be in the forms in the First Schedule. (eg Form 14A for transfer, Form 16B for charge etc.)
- 14. S 206: Need for proper instrument of dealing duly registered. (1) Subject to the following provisions of this section- (a) every dealing under this Act shall be effected by an instrument complying with the requirements of sections 207 to 212; and (b) no instrument effecting any such dealing shall operate to transfer the title to any alienated land or, as the case may be, to create, transfer or otherwise affect any interest therein, until it has been registered under Part Eighteen.
- 15. (2)The provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply to- (a) the creation of, or other dealings affecting, tenancies exempt from registration (which may be effected, instead, as mentioned in subsection (2) of section 213); or (b) the creation of liens (which may be created, instead, as mentioned in section 281).
- 16. S 206 (3) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall affect the contractual operation of any transaction relating to alienated land or any interest therein.
- 17. Unregistered charge: Mahadevan v Manilal An agreement to secure a debt in favour of the creditor in respect of the debtor’s land creates an equitable charge giving rise to an equitable right in favour of the creditor, although no charge or lien within the provisions of the NLC…is created
- 19. Instrument of dealing is presented to the Registrar. He notes the time of presentation (S 292). Instrument is accompanied by registration fee (S 293) and is duly stamped (S 294) He enters the particulars of the instrument in the Presentation Book. (S 295)
- 20. See whether fit for registration, i.e. that certain requirements are complied with under S 301. Register the dealing in the manner stated under SS 304-308.
- 21. Section 304(2): The Registrar shall register any instrument by making a memorial on the register document of title under his hand and seal. Mohamad bin Buyong v Pemungut HasilTanah Gombak “the making of a prescribed memorial of the dealing in the register document of title under the hand and seal of the registering authority”
- 22. In that case, an entry of a transfer on the RDT was not signed. It constituted a “bare entry”. Since it was not signed by the Collector, there was no registration effected.
- 23. Making a memorial on the RDT. The memorial shall consist of (S 304(3)): a short description of the nature and effect of the instrument, a statement of its number in the Presentation Book, the reference under which it is to be filed, the time and date of registration. Making a memorial on the instrument itself completing the Heading under Form 13A (to be inserted in all forms of dealings) under his hand and seal. Section 304 (4): Every memorial of registration made…shall be conclusive evidence of the registration to which it refers and the effective time and date thereof.
- 24. Section 300(1): “The Registrar shall not register an instrument until every instrument presented prior thereto, and affecting the same land or interest, has been registered, rejected or withdrawn”. In other words, the Registrar shall not enter a second registration until he has settled the earlier one. Every instrument of dealing must be registered in the order of time in which it is presented for registration.
- 25. Mohammad bin Buyong There were several transactions that were sought to be effected over the same land. Issue:Whether LA can register the transfer while entry of an earlier transaction remained on the land? HashimYeop Sani J: “on the facts of this case, the words “shall not register” appearing in section 300(1)(a) of the Code are merely directory and not mandatory and it is also my view that the apparent failure on the part of the registrar to comply with this section does not invalidate the registration…”
- 26. However, inTeo’s book mandatory Section 300(1) expressly lays down the principle that every instrument of dealing must be registered in the order of time in which it is presented for registration. The view of HashimYeop Sani J in Mohammad Buyong should be confined to the facts of the case.
- 27. Matters for consideration: S 297: registrar to determine whether fit for registration. If fit for registration, Registrar may register it. If not fit for registration, proceed to S 298 or 299: suspend registration in order to rectify the error, or reject the instrument my marking it with the word “Rejected” and return it with a note of the reasons for rejection.
- 28. When is an instrument fit for registration? When it fulfills the conditions under Section 301. (eg attestation, not contrary to law, not contrary to any restriction in interest, stamped etc) Nature of the Registrar’s duty administrative S 302, S 303.
- 29. Section 380 circumstances where the Registrar may make corrections on the document of title or instrument. Registrar is required to maintain the “Correction Notebook” where he shall record details of all corrections made. Registrar must endorse on the instrument the reason thereof and the date it was effected. Corrections cannot be made by erasing any words or figures.
- 30. The error or omission referred to in Section 380(1)(a) is confined to those made by the Registry of LandTitles and not to those made by the parties in the instrument of transfer. See also Mohammad bin Buyong
- 31. Confers an indefeasible title or interest. i.e. a title/interest which is free from all adverse claims or encumbrances not noted on the register. Will be discussed in the next lecture on INDEFEASIBILITY