Sections 64-66 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.
Sections 64, 65 and 66 say what registration offices must send to one another after they register a non-testamentary document about immovable property that does not lie wholly in one sub-district or one district. As per the text of the Act consulted, the Sub-Registrar who registers the document and the Registrar have set duties to send memoranda or copies, and every receiving office files them in its Book 1.
Section 64: a Sub-Registrar registering a non-testamentary document on property not wholly in his sub-district sends a memorandum to every other Sub-Registrar under the same Registrar in whose sub-district part of the property lies. Section 65: where the property lies in more districts than one, he forwards a copy to the Registrar of each other district. Section 66: after registration, the Registrar forwards a memorandum to his Sub-Registrars and a copy to every other Registrar concerned. Receiving offices file these in Book 1.
What the three sections cover
All three sections apply to a "non-testamentary document relating to immovable property". A will is therefore outside them. The sections do not touch the question of where a document must be presented; that is dealt with in sections 28 to 31 (see our article on the place for registering documents relating to land). They deal with what is done once the document is registered.
Registration is run by the States, and your State may have amended these sections or made rules under section 69. This article explains only the central text; check the State position and any later amendment. If the land you are buying or mortgaging spreads over more than one sub-district or district, our legal due diligence service can look at where the entries should appear and what your title papers show.
Section 64: property in several sub-districts
Section 64 reads, in effect, as a single duty with four elements.
- Every Sub-Registrar on registering a non-testamentary document relating to immovable property not wholly situate in his own sub-district
- makes a memorandum of the document and of the endorsement and certificate (if any) on it,
- sends it to every other Sub-Registrar subordinate to the same Registrar as himself in whose sub-district any part of the property is situate, and
- the receiving Sub-Registrar files the memorandum in his Book 1.
The reach of section 64 is limited to Sub-Registrars under the same Registrar. Where the property lies in more districts than one, section 65 takes over.
Section 65: property in several districts
Sub-section (1) applies when a Sub-Registrar registers a non-testamentary document relating to immovable property "situate in more districts than one". He must "also forward a copy thereof and of the endorsement and certificate (if any) thereon, together with a copy of the map or plan (if any) mentioned in section 21, to the Registrar of every district in which any part of such property is situate other than the district in which his own sub-district is situate."
Sub-section (2) deals with what the receiving Registrar does:
- files in his Book 1 the copy of the document and the copy of the map or plan (if any);
- forwards a memorandum of the document to each of the Sub-Registrars subordinate to him within whose sub-district any part of the property is situate; and
- each Sub-Registrar receiving the memorandum files it in his Book 1.
Note the word "also" in sub-section (1). The Sub-Registrar's section 64 duty continues to apply; section 65 adds the copy to the Registrar of every other district.
Section 66: duties of the Registrar
Section 66 applies "On registering any non-testamentary document relating to immovable property", where the Registrar himself registers it.
| Sub-section | Who | What |
|---|---|---|
| (1) | The Registrar | Forwards a memorandum to each Sub-Registrar subordinate to him in whose sub-district any part of the property is situate |
| (2) | The Registrar | Forwards a copy of the document, with a copy of the map or plan (if any) mentioned in section 21, to every other Registrar in whose district any part of the property is situate |
| (3) | The receiving Registrar | Files the copy in his Book 1 and sends a memorandum of the copy to each of the Sub-Registrars subordinate to him in whose sub-district any part of the property is situate |
| (4) | Every Sub-Registrar receiving a memorandum | Files it in his Book 1 |
So the pattern is the same in all three sections: a copy goes to another Registrar, a memorandum goes down to Sub-Registrars, and everything lands in Book 1. Our article on books kept in a sub-registrar's office covers what Book 1 is.
Documents translated under section 19
Where a document was presented in a language unknown to the officer, section 62(2) says the translation is treated as the original for the copies and memoranda required by sections 57, 64, 65 and 66. Our article on return of document, translations and oaths explains this.
Section 67: omitted
Section 67 carries the heading "Procedure after registration under section 30, sub-section (2)". The copy prints only a note that the section was omitted by the Registration and Other Related Laws (Amendment) Act, 2001 (48 of 2001), section 8, with effect from 24 September 2001 (the note has no closing bracket in the print). There is nothing to explain.
Why this matters to a buyer
A buyer of land spread across more than one sub-district or district wants the registration to show up wherever the land is in the records. These sections tell you what the offices are directed to send each other. They do not say how soon the sending is to be done, and the text consulted is silent on what follows if a memorandum is not sent or filed. Nor does it say how an ordinary person can check that Book 1 of another office holds the memorandum; the right to inspect Book 1 is dealt with in section 57.
An example
Nandini buys a farm whose survey numbers lie partly in the sub-district of Sub-Registrar A and partly in the sub-district of Sub-Registrar B. Both sub-districts are under the same Registrar. A registers the sale deed. Under section 64, A makes a memorandum of the deed, its endorsement and certificate and sends it to B, who files it in his Book 1.
Suppose instead the farm extends into a neighbouring district. Under section 65 A also forwards a copy of the deed, the endorsement and certificate and the copy of the map or plan to the Registrar of that district, who files them in his Book 1 and sends a memorandum to the Sub-Registrars concerned, each of whom files it in Book 1.
Need help with land that spreads over more than one area?
A property that lies in more than one sub-district or district raises questions about where the entries should be and how to confirm them. Our legal due diligence team can review the title papers and the registration trail with you before you commit.
Key takeaways
- Sections 64 to 66 apply to non-testamentary documents about immovable property, not to wills.
- Section 64: a memorandum goes to every other Sub-Registrar under the same Registrar where part of the property lies.
- Section 65: a copy goes to the Registrar of every other district concerned; he files it and sends memoranda to his Sub-Registrars.
- Section 66: the Registrar forwards a memorandum to his Sub-Registrars and a copy to every other Registrar concerned.
- Everything received is filed in Book 1.
- Section 67 is omitted.
- Check your State's amendments and rules and any later amendment.
Read next
- Place for registering documents relating to land: section 28
- Return of document, translations and oaths: sections 61 to 63
- Sub-Registrar vs Registrar: jurisdiction and powers
- Place of registration: where to register documents
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.