Register Sale Deeds: SC Ruling Boosts Women Property Buyers
A Punjabi Bagh residential complex! (Image Bhawna Malik)
Rising female ownership in real estate prompts call for legal vigilance as court affirms registered sale deed as sole proof of ownership
By BHAWNA MALIK
NEW DELHI, July 4, 2025 — When Mohini Asthana (name changed) decided to buy a flat in a newly constructed building, she never imagined that possession of her dream home would turn into a legal and emotional ordeal. Despite completing the payment, the builder refused to hand over the keys — and more importantly, resisted registering the flat in her name through a government-registered sale deed.
“The builder kept urging me to move in, but without any registered paperwork. I waited for three months with all my bags packed,” she recalls. “Being a woman buyer, was I being taken for a ride or simply considered naïve in property matters?”
Asthana’s experience is not isolated. A growing number of women property buyers have found themselves in similar situations — pressured, delayed, or denied registration by unscrupulous builders and intermediaries. But a recent Supreme Court judgement has come as a ray of hope for many.
The apex court ruled that only a registered sale deed constitutes legal proof of ownership. Merely signing an agreement on e-stamp paper — commonly used even for rental contracts — is insufficient to establish property rights. The court also stressed that sale deeds must be registered within four months of signing the agreement.
Legal Clarity, Greater Security for Women
For women buyers, this ruling is a much-needed legal safety net, especially in a sector where documentation is often opaque and manipulation is rampant.
“It is now clear that without a registered sale deed, your property is not legally yours — no matter how much you’ve paid,” says Asthana, 57. “This judgement will protect women buyers like me from being misled or bullied into insecure transactions.”
A recent survey titled “Asset Ownership by Women in India: Insights from NFHS Data” revealed a sharp uptick in female participation in real estate. In 2024, 1.29 lakh residential transactions were solely registered by women — a 14% increase over the previous year. Women’s share in total residential deals rose from 20% in 2023 to 22% in 2024.
Yet, for all the progress, the risks persist.
Exchange Deals, Delays, and Legal Loopholes
Nanda Tuli (name changed), a single woman, also encountered challenges. She exchanged her property for a new flat with a builder — a deal where the builder owed her the difference due to her property’s higher value. But as the possession date neared, he delayed the payment and refused to register the sale deed, citing it as an “exchange deal.”
“He began pointing out flaws in my paperwork, even though everything had been vetted,” Tuli says. “That’s when I insisted on registration first. I still haven’t received the money he owes me.”
A Warning About Manipulation
Neelam Kothari (name changed) faced an even more complex situation. After inheriting a property through a will from her father, she sold it and bought a smaller house. But her brother-in-law, aided by a property dealer, colluded with the builder and pressured her to sign a new will — one that transferred her property to the builder, without mentioning any payments due to her.
“My sister had passed away, and the property was legally in my name. Yet, I was coerced into signing documents that would leave me with nothing,” she says. “Women must be extremely vigilant about every paper they sign.”
The Way Forward
Legal experts say the Supreme Court ruling will be a game-changer for women’s property rights, but the onus remains on buyers to demand registration and seek legal advice before signing agreements. With India’s residential real estate market booming, and more financially independent women entering the fray, clarity on ownership laws is more vital than ever.
The message from the court — and from the women who’ve lived through these ordeals — is clear: no registration, no possession.
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