Schedule 4: Transitional provisions Paragraphs 17 to 24
276.Paragraphs 17 to 24 deal with what are known bijural inaccuracies. For the concept of bijural inaccuracy, see Part 17 of the Scottish Law Commission Report (Scot Law Com No. 222). In the new scheme, there will be no bijural inaccuracies so provision requires to be made for inaccuracies of that kind that exist immediately prior to the designated day. They must either (i) cease to be an inaccuracy (in which case the rights of the parties are realigned to follow what the Land Register says they are), or (ii) be re-conceptualised as an actual inaccuracy.
277.The test adopted as to whether (i) or (ii) occurs is whether a particular inaccuracy could have been rectified under the rules in section 9 of the 1979 Act. If so, paragraphs 17 to 21 convert the bijural inaccuracy into an actual inaccuracy and make provision for compensation to be paid to a person losing a right if the register is then rectified save where a right to indemnity would not have arisen under the 1979 Act. If, however, the bijural inaccuracy could not be rectified under section 9 of the 1979 Act, paragraphs 22 to 24 make provision for the inaccuracy to cease to be an inaccuracy (i.e. for the rights of the parties concerned to be realigned so as to conform to what the Land Register says they are). Provision is also made for the payment of compensation to a person suffering loss as a result of such realignment where a right to indemnity would have arisen under the 1979 Act if rectification under section 9 was not possible.
278.In both cases, the practical result is the same as it is under the 1979 Act. A title that was vulnerable to rectification remains vulnerable, while one that was invulnerable (usually due to the protection given to a proprietor in possession) becomes free from the possibility of rectification. As possession is important under the current law, and in order to minimise problems of evidence, paragraph 18 provides that the person registered as proprietor of the land is presumed to be in possession for the purposes of determining whether the Keeper had power to rectify.