DiH : Jurnal Ilmu Hukum
Volume 22 Nomor 1 Februari 2026

Annulment of Land Rights Certificate Due to Unlawful Act: Analysis of Supreme Decision 172 PK/Pdt/2023

Jerry Shalmont (Universitas Pelita Harapan, Indonesia)
Felicia Angeline Angeline (Universitas Pelita Harapan, Indonesia)
Marsha Carolina Wijaya Wijaya (Universitas Pelita Harapan, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
14 Apr 2026

Abstract

Land title certificates in Indonesia serve as strong evidence of ownership, yet their validity is relative rather than absolute and may be annulled if issuance originates from an unlawful act. This study aims to analyze the legal basis for annulling land certificates predicated upon tortious conduct and to assess the implications of such judicial action for the protection of legitimate rights holders. Employing a normative juridical method with statutory, conceptual, and case-law approaches, this research examines the Supreme Court's jurisprudence in annulling a certificate issued through an unlawful act. The findings reveal that the unlawful acts doctrine, as codified in the civil code, operates as an effective corrective mechanism against maladministration in land registration, enabling civil courts to invalidate state-issued certificates tainted by tortious conduct. The study further demonstrates that the decision reinforces the primacy of substantive justice over formal legal certainty, thereby strengthening legal protection for rightful landowners and promoting integrity within the national land administration system. This research contributes to the development of Indonesian agrarian law by clarifying the jurisprudential basis for certificate annulment and its systemic implications.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

dih

Publisher

Subject

Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

DiH: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum is published by the by the University Law Faculty Doctor of Law Study Program August 17, 1945 Surabaya. First published in 1996 and up to now there are as many as two editions per year. This journal gives readers access to download journal entries in pdf file format. DiH: ...