MP High Court Accepts Notary's Apology, Orders Him To Put Warning Board Saying Marriage Documents Can't Be Notarised
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has accepted an apology from a Notary Public of Datia and revoked his suspension after accepting his apology for notarising a marriage document, despite a specific bar issued by the Central Government on executing marriage or divorce deeds. [2026 LiveLaw (MP) 326]
Directing the notary to put a warning board stating that notarizing marriage documents is impermissible in law, the Division Bench of Justice GS Ahluwalia and Justice Anuradha Shukla held:
"Committing a mistake is not a sin, but repeating the same will be a sin. There should not be any hatred towards a sinner, but hatred should be for the sin. Shri Samadhiya has accepted his mistake not only today but on 28.07.2026 also. Whether that acceptance is from the bottom of his heart or it is superficial cannot be adjudicated in these proceedings because that can be ascertained from his future conduct. Furthermore, Shri Samadhiya has also agreed to affix a display board at the place of his working that notarization of any marriage document is forbidden in law and that cannot be done and has also agreed to contribute Rs. 2,00,000/- for the welfare of the Bar. Therefore, this Court is of considered opinion that another opportunity can be given to Shri Samadhiya".
The order of suspension was passed by the High Court in a habeas corpus petition filed by one Chandrapal Singh Parihar, who alleged that his wife is in illegal detention of respondent no 3, her father.
During the proceedings, the corpus was produced before the court, wherein he stated that she had been residing in the house of the petitioner's brother-in-law. She claimed that the petitioner threatened her and compelled her to leave and reside with him out of fear, and that they had gone to the Datia court where a court marriage was performed.
The court noted that the case diary contained a written notarised document titled 'ववाह वाद ववाह के पंजीयन बावत िलखतम' (Document regarding registration of marriage) which was notarised by the notary public Raghavendra Samadhiya.
Taking note of the notarisation of the marriage document, the court directed that proceedings be initiated against the said notary and issued him a show cause notice.
Samadhiya, the said notary, appeared in person before the court and admitted that he had made a mistake. He was ready to contribute ₹2 lakh towards the welfare of the bar to show his bona fides. He further undertook to install a display board at this office stating that marriage affidavits or documents pertaining to marriage cannot be notarised.
Thus, accepting the notary's apology, the court directed that before resuming the notary work, Samadhiya must affix the board stating that marriage documents cannot be notarised. He was also directed to deposit ₹ 2 lakh to the High Court Bar Association.
Accordingly, the bench ordered that proceedings against Samadhyia be dropped, subject to compliance with conditions imposed by the court.
Case Title: In Re Suo Moto Writ Petition v Raghuvendra Samadhiya Notary Public Datia, WRIT PETITION No. 28645 of 2026
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (MP) 326
For State: Government Advocate GK Agrawal
For Respondent: Senior Advocate Jitendra Sharma with Advocates Ankur Maheshwari and Satya Pal Solanki