Want to transfer your share in a jointly owned or inherited property to another co-owner? A Relinquishment Deed (also called Release Deed) lets you do it for just Rs.100 stamp duty in Delhi. But be careful - if done incorrectly, the Sub Registrar can charge full stamp duty at sale deed rates. This guide explains exactly when Rs.100 applies and when it does not.
A Relinquishment Deed is a legal document through which a co-owner of a property voluntarily gives up (relinquishes) their share, rights, title, and interest in the property in favour of another co-owner. It is most commonly used when legal heirs of a deceased person want to consolidate ownership - for example, when siblings agree that one of them should get the family property.
The key word here is co-owner. A relinquishment deed can only be executed between persons who already have a legal share in the property. You cannot relinquish your share in favour of a stranger or someone who has no existing ownership in the property.
How a Relinquishment Deed Works
Both the person giving up the share (releasor) and the person receiving it (releasee) must be existing co-owners of the same property.
A genuine relinquishment deed is executed without any sale price or monetary exchange. It is done out of love, affection, or family arrangement.
Once registered, a relinquishment deed cannot be taken back unless fraud or coercion is proven in court.
Registration at the Sub Registrar Office is mandatory under Section 17 of the Indian Registration Act. An unregistered relinquishment deed has no legal validity.
In Delhi, these two terms are often used interchangeably at the Sub Registrar Office. However, there are subtle legal differences:
This is the most important section of this guide. The stamp duty on a relinquishment deed in Delhi depends entirely on who is transferring to whom and whether money is involved.
Under the Indian Stamp Act (as applicable to Delhi), a relinquishment/release deed attracts only Rs.100 fixed stamp duty when ALL of the following conditions are met:
The transfer is between existing co-owners of the property
There is no monetary consideration (no sale price, no payment)
The releasor is giving up their own share in the property
The deed is a genuine relinquishment, not a disguised sale
The Sub Registrar will charge full stamp duty (same as sale deed) in these situations:
If the person receiving the property is not an existing co-owner, it is treated as a conveyance (sale) and full stamp duty applies.
If the deed mentions any sale consideration or payment, the Sub Registrar treats it as a sale deed and charges stamp duty on the full value.
If the Sub Registrar suspects the deed is a disguised sale (e.g., large property, unrelated co-owners), it may be referred to the Collector of Stamps for adjudication.
If the property is not jointly owned or inherited (e.g., sole owner trying to "relinquish" to someone), it is not a valid relinquishment.
The difference is massive. For a property worth Rs.1 crore, a relinquishment deed between co-owners saves Rs.7-8 lakh compared to a sale deed or gift deed.
This is the question every family asks: should we do a relinquishment deed or a gift deed? The answer depends on whether the parties are co-owners.
Which Deed Should You Use?
Use when: Both parties are co-owners of the same property (e.g., inherited from father). Stamp duty: Rs.100 only.
Use when: Transferring sole-owned property to a family member who is NOT a co-owner. Stamp duty: 4-7%.
Use when: Selling property to anyone (family or non-family) with monetary consideration. Stamp duty: 4-7%.
Gather proof that all parties are co-owners - mutation records, legal heir certificate, original sale deed/registry of the property, death certificate of the deceased owner.
Get it professionally drafted with clear property description, share details, names of all co-owners, and a declaration that no monetary consideration is involved.
Buy an e-stamp certificate of Rs.100 from SHCIL or authorized bank. This is the stamp duty for relinquishment between co-owners.
Print the drafted relinquishment deed on the e-stamp paper. All parties (releasor and releasee) sign every page.
Book appointment at the Sub Registrar Office via NGDRS portal. All co-owners (both giving up and receiving) + 2 witnesses must attend.
Sub Registrar verifies documents, confirms co-ownership, captures Aadhaar-linked biometrics. Pay registration fee of Rs.1,000 + Rs.100 pasting fee.
Registered deed returned in 1-2 days. Apply for property mutation at MCD/DDA to update ownership records.
Father's property is inherited equally by 3 children. Two siblings agree to relinquish their share in favour of the third. Each sibling executes a separate relinquishment deed. Stamp duty: Rs.100 per deed. Total cost: Rs.200 stamp duty + Rs.2,200 registration fee.
Property is in joint names of husband and wife. Wife wants to relinquish her share in favour of husband (or vice versa). Since both are co-owners, stamp duty is Rs.100 only.
If the son is NOT a co-owner (property is solely in father's name), a relinquishment deed CANNOT be used. Father must execute a Gift Deed (4-7% stamp duty) or Sale Deed. Relinquishment only works between existing co-owners.
If one co-owner pays money to another for relinquishing their share, the Sub Registrar will treat it as a sale deed and charge full stamp duty (6-7% of circle rate). The Rs.100 rule only applies when no consideration is involved.
This is a landmark ruling that every family dealing with inherited property in Delhi must know. Here is what happened in simple language:
A father passed away leaving a property jointly owned by his wife, one son (Ramesh Sharma), and five daughters - all as Class-I legal heirs. The father had also made a Will giving 50% share to his son. All five sisters agreed to give up (relinquish) their share in the property in favour of their brother. They executed separate Relinquishment Deeds and presented them for registration at the Sub Registrar Office.
The Sub Registrar referred the deeds to the Collector of Stamps. The Sub-District Magistrate (SDM) treated the relinquishment deeds as "Gift Deeds" and imposed full stamp duty of Rs.6,60,257 plus Rs.1,00,000 penalty - a total of Rs.7,60,257. The brother was forced to pay this amount under protest to avoid property attachment. He challenged this in court.
The Division Bench of Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar ruled in favour of the brother and made these key observations:
The court set aside the SDM's order and the Single Judge's order. The Rs.7,60,257 charged as stamp duty + penalty was held to be wrong. The relinquishment deeds between co-owning siblings attracted only the nominal fixed stamp duty - not the gift deed rates.
Not co-owners? Gift deed is the alternative for family property transfer.
Selling property? Complete sale deed process and stamp duty guide.
Planning succession? Zero stamp duty on Wills. Compare with relinquishment.
Calculate stamp duty for all property documents in Delhi.
Need someone to execute the deed on your behalf? GPA/SPA guide.
Have a specific question about relinquishment deed? Ask our experts.
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