What the two parts record
- Form VII: the record of rights. It lists occupants, owners, mortgagees, tenants and others who hold rights in the land, along with the land details other than crops.
- Form XII: the register of crops. It records the crops grown, the area under each crop and any fallow land.
Does the 7/12 prove ownership
Not conclusively. In Pradeep Rajaram Dawle v. Swarupchand Uttamchand Banwat (Second Appeal No. 445 of 2007, decided on 9 July 2010), the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench, held that entries in the 7/12 extract do not confer conclusive title. They raise a presumption of title under section 133 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, and that presumption can be rebutted by other evidence. In that case, letters showing the other side’s possession and purchase were enough to rebut it.
In practice this means a 7/12 is an important document to read, but a buyer, a lender or a family member should not treat it as the only proof. Title documents, mutation entries and the history of the land should be checked together.
Where to read more
- Short definitions of other land and trust terms are in our legal glossary.
- Family property questions are collected in our family and succession guide.
- Property and society questions are collected in our property and housing society guide.
This is general information. If you are buying land or dealing with a dispute over a record entry, speak to a lawyer who can see the documents.