Andhra Pradesh High Court Rejects Unilateral Cancellation of Registered Gift Deeds

The Andhra Pradesh High Court held that a donor cannot cancel a completed registered gift deed unilaterally merely by expressing a change of mind.

Background

The dispute concerned cancellation of a gift by the petitioner’s mother and consequential changes proposed in municipal property records. Registration officials relied on administrative memoranda said to permit cancellation.

Legal issue and reasoning

The Court applied Sections 123 and 126 of the Transfer of Property Act and rejected administrative directions inconsistent with substantive property law. Revocation requires legally recognised grounds and cannot ordinarily bypass consent or a civil court decree.

Outcome and next step

The impugned unilateral cancellation could not stand on the registering authority’s stated basis.