Morelle Ltd v Wakeling

Subject Matter

LAND — Mortmain — Lease — Foreign company — Transfer of registered land — Company registered as proprietors of leasehold interest in land in United Kingdom — No licence in mortmain obtained from Crown — No compliance with Companies Acts requirements for holding land — Forfeiture to Crown from date of registration of transfer — Land registration- Practice — Leasehold possessory title — Validity of registration — Effect of non-compliance with statutory forms — Discretion of registrar — Magna Carta, 1225 (9 Hen. 3, c. 36) — Statute De Religiosis Viris, 1279 (7 Edw. 1) — Charitable Uses Act, 1735 (9 Geo. 2, c. 36) — Mortmain and Charitable Uses Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c. 42), ss. 1 (1) (2), 10 — Mortmain and Charitable Uses Act, 1891 (54 & 55 Vict. c. 73), s. 3 — Land Registration Act, 1925 (15 Geo. 5, c. 21), ss. 23 (1), 80, 144 (1) — Land Registration Rules, 1925 (S.R. & O., 1925, No. 1093/L.28), rr. 74, 121, 123, 322 — Form 35.

[1955] 2 QB 379; [1955] 2 WLR 672; [1955] 1 All ER 708, CA

JUDICIAL PRECEDENT — Court of Appeal decision — Per incuriam — Mortmain — Inadequate argument — Interested party not represented. Statute — Construction — Consolidating Act — To be construed against background of previous law — Mortmain. Practice and Procedure — Parties — Joinder — Crown — Amicus curiae — R.S.C., Ord. 16, r. 11.

[1955] 2 QB 379; [1955] 2 WLR 672; [1955] 1 All ER 708, CA