A reversion suit in land registration proceedings is a legal action initiated by the government to reclaim land that was granted to an individual or entity but has since been found to be in violation of the terms of the grant or the law.
The term "reversion" refers to the right of the government to take back possession of the land if the conditions of the grant or applicable laws are violated.
For example, if a piece of land is granted to an individual on the condition that it is used for agricultural purposes only, and the individual later builds a commercial building on the land, the government may file a reversion suit to reclaim the land. Similarly, if the grantee fails to pay the required taxes on the land, the government may initiate a reversion suit to reclaim the land.
Reversion suits are usually filed in court and can result in the land title being cancelled and the land being returned to the government. The grantee may also be required to pay any outstanding taxes or fines related to the land.
in the Philippines, the Revised Administrative Code provides that the government has five years from the date of the issuance of the land patent or grant to initiate a reversion suit based on the ground of fraud or misrepresentation.
What is the difference between Reversion and reconveyance?
Reversion and reconveyance are both legal terms related to the transfer of ownership or title to property, but they refer to different concepts.
Reversion refers to the right of the government or another party to reclaim ownership of property under certain circumstances. As mentioned earlier, a reversion suit is a legal action initiated by the government to reclaim land that was granted to an individual or entity but has since been found to be in violation of the terms of the grant or the law. In other words, reversion involves the transfer of ownership from the grantee back to the government or other entity with the right of reversion.
Reconveyance, on the other hand, is a legal action initiated by the grantor of property to transfer ownership or title back to the grantee or another party who has the right to the property. Reconveyance is typically used when there has been an error or defect in the original transfer of property, or when the terms of a trust or mortgage have been fulfilled. For example, if a property was transferred to a trustee to secure a loan, and the loan is paid off, the trustee may file for a reconveyance to transfer the title back to the borrower.
In summary, while both reversion and reconveyance involve the transfer of property ownership, reversion refers to the transfer of ownership from the grantee back to the government or other entity with the right of reversion, while reconveyance refers to the transfer of ownership back to the grantee or another party who has the right to the property.