Supervisory power does not permit cancellation of registered deeds; civil courts must decide validity except where fraud is apparent.

Section 68(2) supervisory powers over subordinate registering officers permit correction of registration office errors but do not authorize substantive cancellation or nullification of registered sale deeds; such declarations of instrument invalidity are matters for civil adjudication unless fraud is apparent on the face of the record. Allegations like impersonation or disputed facts must be pleaded and proved in a competent civil forum or through criminal process, and administrative summary orders nullifying deeds during parallel civil proceedings exceed supervisory authority and are inappropriate. The Registrar's nullification orders were set aside accordingly.

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Issues: Whether the District Registrar, invoking Section 68(2) of the Registration Act, 1908, is empowered to nullify/cancel registered sale deeds (i.e., exercise power to declare documents null and void) during the pendency of a civil suit between the parties.

Analysis: Section 68(2) of the Registration Act, 1908 confers supervisory and corrective powers over subordinate registering officers in respect of acts or omissions of Sub-Registrars and rectification of errors regarding the book or office of registration; it does not confer substantive power to cancel or nullify a registered document. Constitutional and judicial precedent distinguishes administrative superintendence from adjudication of civil rights and holds that cancellation or nullification of registered documents is a substantive matter for civil courts unless fraud is apparent on the face of the record. The registering authority may act only in cases of fraud apparent on record; allegations of fraud, impersonation or disputed factual matters must be pleaded and proved in a competent civil forum or addressed by criminal process, and summary administrative proceedings cannot usurp the jurisdiction of civil courts. When parallel civil proceedings between the parties are pending seeking declaration as to validity of instruments, entertaining and deciding a complaint under Section 68(2) to nullify registered deeds amounts to exceeding the administrative supervisory power and intrudes upon exclusive civil jurisdiction; administrative orders making sale deeds null and void in such circumstances are inappropriate.

Conclusion: The order of the District Registrar nullifying the three sale deeds under Section 68(2) of the Registration Act, 1908 is not in accordance with the powers conferred by that provision and is consequently set aside; the writ appeal is allowed in favour of the appellants.

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