Govt directs notaries to submit annual returns within 7 days

Srinagar, Dec 31: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has directed all enrolled notaries across the Union Territory to submit their annual return within a period of seven days from the date of publication of the circular, warning that failure to comply will invite action under the relevant rules.
According to a circular issued by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Notary Section Civil Secretariat Srinagar and Jammu, every notary is required to submit the annual return online in Form XIV of the notarial acts carried out during the preceding year, as mandated under Rule 14 of the Notaries Rules, 1956.
The circular states that notaries who have not yet submitted their annual return pertaining to the year 2025 must upload the same through the official departmental email within the stipulated seven-day period. The government has made it clear that any failure or delay in submission will be treated as a violation of the prescribed rules.
The department has further cautioned that action, as warranted under the Notaries Rules, shall be initiated against defaulters after the expiry of the deadline. The directive aims to ensure strict compliance with statutory requirements and maintain proper records of notarial acts across the Union Territory. [KNT]