CA Ramesh Agrawal The Supreme Court in a significant ruling has stated that only registering a property does not make someone its legal owner. The judgement, delivered in the Mahnoor Fatima Imran vs M/s Visweswara Infrastructure Private Limited case, has direct implications for millions of Indian homebuyers and investors. If someone has bought a property solely based on a registered sale deed, then have a look at the below points. Understanding the Law: Registration Does Not Equal Ownership “Ownership of a property comprises several aspects, of which registration is only one,” says Mr. Harsh Parikh, partner at a Law Firm, Khaitan & Co. Under Indian law, properties above Rs. 100 require registration, but that’s not all. “A buyer must also prove full payment, possession, and custody of original title documents,” he explains. Chairman and Director of Prime Developments, Mr. Rakesh Malhotra stated that “Registration provides prima facie evidence of a transaction, but it doesn’t c...