Journal of Legal Research

Journal of Legal Research

The Impact of Article 62 of the Permanent Provisions Law of Development Programs on the Theoretical Foundations of Consensual Property Transactions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 PhD Student in Private Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Mazandaran University, Babolsar. Iran.
2 Professor, Department of Private Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Iran.
Abstract
The enactment of Article 62 of the Permanent Provisions Law of Development Programs and its predominant interpretation has entrenched the theory of consensual validity in property transactions, albeit while creating conflicts with certain foundational principles upheld by its proponents, such as the principle of presumption of validity (asl-e sehhah). This judicial and doctrinal shift has generated significant challenges for the public, the judiciary, and the government, particularly in cases where transactions executed through informal documents have been contested despite parties’ good-faith reliance on governmental authorities and the State Organization for Registration of Deeds and Properties. When such transactions are later invalidated by judicial rulings, the resulting legal uncertainty not only undermines public trust but also disrupts the stability and security of property transactions, potentially facilitating financial corruption. To mitigate these adverse effects, legislative intervention is necessary - either by mandating formalization for transactions involving registered properties or by rendering unregistered transactions inadmissible against third parties and the government, in line with comparative legal frameworks. Consequently, the Expediency Discernment Council’s pending approval of the proposed bill - which would invalidate unregistered property transactions and bar their judicial enforcement - is both urgent and justified. 
Keywords

  • Abedi, Ahmad. "Advanced Jurisprudence Lectures: Fiqh Review of Commercial Law/Company Bankruptcy/Validity of the Judge’s Decree and Suspicion about Conformity of the Decree with Expediency." Qom Seminary, 1/11/1401 AH. Available at: https://eshia.ir/feqh/archive/text/abedi/feqh2/1401/14011101 (in Persian)
  • Abhari, Hamid and Ali Sorkhi. The Role of Ordinary Documents in Real Estate Transactions. 3rd ed. Tehran: Fekrsazan, 2017. (in Persian)
  • Abhari, Hamid. "The Role of Official Deeds in Sale of Real Estate." Legal Research, 7(14) (2008), 185–210. (in Persian)
  • Akhound Khorasani, Muhammad Kazim ibn Hussein. Kifayat al-Usul (Aal al-Bayt Edition). Qom: Aal al-Bayt Institute for Revival of Heritage (Peace be upon them), 1409 AH. Retrieved from Noor Digital Library website, available at: https://noorlib.ir/book/info/2748 (in Arabic)
  • Alef News Agency. "Supreme Leader: The Country’s Expediency in Removing Validity from Informal Immovable Property Transactions." 6 Tir 1402. Available at: https://www.alef.ir/news/4020406048.html (in Persian)
  • Bigdeli, Ataollah. "Sovereignty of Will in Imami Jurisprudence, Roman-Germanic System, and Iranian Law: A Foundational-Philosophical Introduction." Islamic Law Research Journal, 16(1) (2015), 125-150. https://doi.org/10.30497/law.2015.1770 (in Persian)
  • Ekhtebar News Agency. "Guardian Council Jurists’ Opinion on Articles 22, 46, 47, and 48 of the Registration of Deeds and Properties Law." Last updated 12 Aban 1395. Available at: https://www.ekhtebar.ir/?p=25000 (in Persian)
  • Eslami, Seyed Mahdi, Jalil Ghanavati, and Abbasali Heidari. "Interpretation of Article 62 of the Permanent Provisions Act." Research Journal of Jurisprudence and Islamic Legal Foundations, 11(1) (2018), 37-58. (in Persian)
  • Esmaeili, Mohsen. "Principle of Sovereignty of Will in Western and Islamic Law: Foundations, Effects, and Historical Background." Comparative Research on Islamic and Western Law, 5(16) (2018), 3-26. https://doi.org/10.22091/csiw.2019.1554.1124 (in Persian)
  • Fars News Agency. "Land Grabbers’ Profiteering from Ambiguity of the Plan to Derecognize Informal Documents." 20 Aban 1402. Available at: https://www.farsnews.ir/news/14020815000718 (in Persian)
  • Fars News Agency. "Letter from Minister of Economy to the Expediency Discernment Council: Request to Approve the Plan Obligating Official Registration of Immovable Property Transactions." 5 Khordad 1402. Available at: https://farsnews.ir/Economy/1685076360000855477 (in Persian)
  • Ghasemzadeh, Seyed Morteza. Principles of Contracts and Obligations. 1st ed. Tehran: Dadgostar, 2004. (in Persian)
  • Ghestin, Jacques. Traité de droit civil: laformation ducontract, Vol. 1-2: les obligation. Paris: Libraivie generale de droit et de jurisprudence, 1993. (in English)
  • Gorji, Abolqasem. Collection of Legal Articles. 2nd ed. Tehran: University of Tehran, 1993. (in Persian)
  • Hashemi, Seyed Mohammad. Constitutional Law of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Vol. 2. 22nd ed. Tehran: Mizan, 2010. (in Persian)
  • Judicial Sessions Portal. "Opinion of the High Board of Judicial Sessions No. 9044-1401." Available at: www.neshast.org (in Persian)
  • Judiciary Legal Department. "Opinion No. 2940/96/7 dated 30/11/1396." Available at: https://edarehoquqy.eadl.ir (in Persian)
  • Karchani, Mehdi and Hoda Madadi. "Report of a Session Critiquing a Court of Appeal Decision (Tehran Province): Possibility of Annulment of Mortgage Official Deed Based on Earlier-dated Ordinary Document of Ownership Transfer." Rayi Journal, 8(26) (2019), 165-186. https://doi.org/10.22106/jcr.2019.101548.1236 (in Persian)
  • Katoozian, Nasser. "Judicial Policy and Notary Public Offices." Journal of Faculty of Law and Political Science, 68 (2005), 279-296. (in Persian)
  • Katoozian, Nasser. Civil Law, General Theory of Obligations. 7th ed. Tehran: Mizan, 2014. (in Persian)
  • Katoozian, Nasser. General Rules of Contracts, The Course of Specified Contracts, Vol. 1. 6th ed. Tehran: Sherkat-e Sahami Enteshar, 1995. (in Persian)
  • Katoozian, Nasser. Proof and Evidence, Vol. 1. Tehran: Mizan, 2004. (in Persian)
  • Langarudi, Mohammad Jafar. Comprehensive Legal Terminology, Vol. 1. 5th ed. Tehran: Ganj Danesh Library, 2011. (in Persian)
  • Makarem Shirazi, Naser. Qawa'id al-Fiqhiyyah. 3rd ed., Vol. 2. Qom: Imam Amir al-Mu'minin School, 1411 AH. Available at: https://noorlib.ir/book/info/313 (in Arabic)
  • Mehrpour, Hossein. New Views on Legal Issues. 2nd ed. Tehran: Nashr-e Ettelaat, 1995. (in Persian)
  • Mohaghegh Damad, Mostafa. Rules of Jurisprudence: Civil Section (Ownership / Liability). 38th ed. Tehran: Human Sciences Publishing Center, 2013. (in Persian)
  • Mousavi Bojnourdi, Seyed Mohammad and Eftekhardanshpour. "Jurisprudential and Legal Study of the Position of the Guardian Council in the Islamic Republic of Iran and Its Supervision on Laws and Regulations." Matin Research Journal, 53 (2011), 51-74. (in Persian)
  • Mousavi Khomeini, Ruhollah. Al-Rasa'il. Qom: Esmaeilian, 1368 SH. Available at: https://noorlib.ir/book/info/2733 (in Arabic)
  • National Laws and Regulations Portal. "Unified Ruling No. 672 dated 1/10/133." Available at: https://qavanin.ir/Law/PrintText/181656 (in Persian)
  • Pilvar, Rahim and Hatameh Safari. "A New Look at the Validity of Ordinary Documents Regarding Immovable Property with Emphasis on a Court Ruling." Rayi Journal, 8(28) (2019), 105-119. https://doi.org/10.22106/jcr.2018.98848.1219 (in Persian)
  • Sadat Akhavi, Seyed Mohsen and Seyed Morteza Tabatabaei. "Analysis of the Absolute Validity of Official Documents under the Permanent Development Plans Law." Judiciary Law, 108 (2019), 119-134. (in Persian)
  • Safaei, Seyed Hossein. Elementary Course in Civil Law, Vol. 2: General Rules of Contracts. 9th ed. Tehran: Mizan, 2010. (in Persian)
  • Sahebi, Mehdi. "The Role of Registration of Documents in Immovable Transactions with Emphasis on Judicial Practice: A Comparative Study in French Law." PhD thesis. Tehran: Shahid Beheshti University, 2010. (in Persian)
  • Shahidi, Mehdi. Collection of Legal Articles: Sale of Immovable Property without Official Deed Registration. 1st ed. Tehran: Hoquqdan, 2006. (in Persian)
  • Shahidi, Mehdi. Formation of Contracts and Obligations. 1st ed. Tehran: Hoquqdan, 1998. (in Persian)
  • Shams, Abdullah. Evidence in Substantive and Procedural Claims. 15th ed. Tehran: Derak, 2012. (in Persian)
  • Simler, Philippe & Philippe Delebecque. Droit civil: les sûretés, la publicité foncière. 3th ed. Paris: Dalloz, 2000. (in English)
  • Tabatabaei, Seyed Sadegh and Ruhollah Kiani. "Reflections of the Principle of Validity in Jurisprudence and Law." Research on Fiqh and Islamic Law, 32 (2013), 49-68. (in Persian)
  • Weill, Alex & François Terré. Droit Civil: les obligathions. Paris: Dalloz, 1980. (in English)