Sections 10 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
What happens if the Registrar or Sub-Registrar is away on the day you need your deed registered? Sections 10 to 15 answer that: they say who steps in, how the appointment is reported, what staff the State may allow and what seal registering officers use. Section 9 is repealed. This article reads the provisions as per the text of the Act consulted. If a document of yours is stuck because of an office vacancy, a legal consultation can help you decide the next step.
When a Registrar is absent or his office is vacant, the person appointed by the Inspector General acts (and, for a district outside a Presidency-town, the District Judge acts if no one is appointed). When a Sub-Registrar is absent or his office is vacant, the person the Registrar appoints acts. A Registrar absent on duty in his district can appoint a substitute for all duties except those in sections 68 and 72. Sections 13 and 14 carry printing slips in the copy.
Section 9: repealed
Section 9, on military cantonments declared to be sub-districts or districts, is printed only as a heading with a note that it was repealed by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1927 (10 of 1927), section 3 and Schedule II. It has no present content.
Section 10: absence of Registrar or vacancy in his office
The section has two parts, depending on the district.
Sub-section (1): a district other than one including a Presidency-town. The trigger is that the Registrar "is absent otherwise than on duty in his district", or that his office is temporarily vacant. Then any person whom the Inspector General appoints for the purpose is the Registrar during the absence, or until the State Government fills the vacancy. If the Inspector General has made no appointment, the Judge of the District Court within whose jurisdiction the Registrar's office is situate is the Registrar.
Sub-section (2): a district including a Presidency-town. The same triggers apply, but only a person appointed by the Inspector General can act; the section does not name the District Judge as a default here. The words "Presidency-town" are part of the text as printed.
Section 11: Registrar absent on duty in his district
A Registrar who is away from his office on duty in his own district may appoint any Sub-Registrar or other person in the district to perform all the duties of a Registrar during the absence, "except those mentioned in sections 68 and 72". Section 68 deals with the Registrar's control over Sub-Registrars and section 72 with appeals against refusals, both covered in our later articles on sections 68 to 70 and section 72. So the substitute can register documents but cannot take over those two functions.
Section 12: absence of Sub-Registrar or vacancy in his office
When a Sub-Registrar is absent, or his office is temporarily vacant, any person the Registrar of the district appoints for the purpose shall be Sub-Registrar during that absence, or until the vacancy is filled.
Section 13: report to the State Government
Section 13(1) says all appointments made under sections 10, 11 or 12 shall be reported to the State Government by the Inspector General. The copy prints "(1) [ ] All appointments", which means words were omitted at the start of the sub-section. Section 13(2) says the report is to be special or general, as the State Government directs. A second omission marker, "[ ]", follows in the copy.
Section 14: establishments of registering officers
Only sub-section (2) is printed with content: the State Government may allow proper establishments for the several offices under the Act. Sub-section (1) is shown as "[ *]", that is, omitted.
Section 15: seal of registering officers
Registrars and Sub-Registrars "shall use a seal bearing the following inscription in English and in such other language as the State Government directs". The inscription is printed as: "The seal of the Registrar (or of the Sub-Registrar of ...........)". The dots stand for the name of the sub-district.
Who acts when: a quick reference
| Situation | Who acts | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Registrar absent (not on duty in his district) or office vacant, district without a Presidency-town | Person appointed by the Inspector General; failing that, the District Court Judge | s.10(1) |
| Same, district including a Presidency-town | Person appointed by the Inspector General | s.10(2) |
| Registrar absent on duty in his district | Sub-Registrar or other person he appoints, except for sections 68 and 72 duties | s.11 |
| Sub-Registrar absent or office vacant | Person the Registrar appoints | s.12 |
A practical example
Anil and Faizan sign a sale deed and go to the Sub-Registrar's office for presentation. They are told the Sub-Registrar is away and another officer, appointed by the Registrar, will handle the day's work. Section 12 recognises such an appointee as the Sub-Registrar for the period of absence. Anil's concern should be that the documents are completed within the time limit for presentation, which we discuss in the post on time limit under section 23. If the delay is long, ask for the name and order of appointment and keep a note of the date you presented the papers.
Need help when your registration is delayed?
If you are worried about deadlines or a deed returned because of an absent officer, our legal consultation team can look at the dates and the options. State rules on staffing and seals are not in the copy and should be checked.
Key takeaways
- Section 9 is repealed.
- A vacant or absent Registrar is replaced by the Inspector General's appointee; outside a Presidency-town the District Judge acts if there is no appointment.
- A Registrar absent on duty can appoint a substitute, except for the duties in sections 68 and 72.
- A Sub-Registrar's place is filled by the Registrar's appointee.
- All such appointments are reported to the State Government; the print of section 13 has omitted words.
- Only section 14(2) is live in the copy; the seal has an inscription in English and any other language the State directs.
- State amendments and rules should be checked.
Read next
- Sections 3 to 8 of the Registration Act, 1908: Inspector General, districts, Registrars and Sub-Registrars
- Sections 16 and 16A of the Registration Act, 1908: register-books, fire-proof boxes and electronic records
- Sub-Registrar vs Registrar -- Jurisdiction and Powers
- Procedure of Registration at Sub-Registrar Office
Disclaimer: Based on a print of the Registration Act, 1908 marked as last updated on 9 July 2020, as consulted on 2 October 2026. State amendments and rules, later amendments, registration fees and stamp duty are not covered and should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.