Recommending amendments in the existing
land laws to deal with cases of land grab, Justice Kuldip Singh panel
today suggested abolishing the “highly corrupt” institution of patwaris
and kanungos.
“We have observed that the institution of patwaris/kanungos is reputed to be highly corrupt…. We are, therefore, strongly of the view that patwaris and kanungos should be totally abolished in a phased manner,” the panel said.
Constituted by the High Court to look into land grab cases not just in Nayagaon and other villages on Chandigarh’s periphery, the panel said their cadre should be replaced by “some officials by the name of revenue inspector or the like, directly under the control of the Collector”.
Referring to archaic laws, the panel said the “Land Revenue Act be suitably amended as the more than 100-year-old revenue laws have more or less outlived their utility…. The Punjab land Revenue Act also needs a fresh look and a comprehensive amendment”’.
The panel also suggested doing away with nomenclatures given to the nature and character of land under revenue proceedings, such as jumla. The nomenclatures were providing loopholes to unscrupulous officers. By carrying out an amendment in the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961, the nomenclatures should be deemed to be shamlat land under the control and management of gram panchayats, the panel suggested.
The panel also recommended that the overall supervision of shamlat land be entrusted to the Collector by way of appropriate amendments. Also, there should be a regular audit of the shamlat land.
The panel said that law should be suitably amended to the effect that no registering authority shall register a sale deed, where the land in terms of the revenue record is or was shamlat land, without the Collector’s prior approval.
It reiterated its earlier suggestion of having special Benches to monitor issues arising out of its reports on land grab. Also, persons and societies shown to be in possession of shamlat/panchayat land should be issued notices and the process to dispossess them undertaken.
“Officers/officials of the revenue/consolidation department found involved should be punished suitably,” it added.
“We have observed that the institution of patwaris/kanungos is reputed to be highly corrupt…. We are, therefore, strongly of the view that patwaris and kanungos should be totally abolished in a phased manner,” the panel said.
Constituted by the High Court to look into land grab cases not just in Nayagaon and other villages on Chandigarh’s periphery, the panel said their cadre should be replaced by “some officials by the name of revenue inspector or the like, directly under the control of the Collector”.
Referring to archaic laws, the panel said the “Land Revenue Act be suitably amended as the more than 100-year-old revenue laws have more or less outlived their utility…. The Punjab land Revenue Act also needs a fresh look and a comprehensive amendment”’.
The panel also suggested doing away with nomenclatures given to the nature and character of land under revenue proceedings, such as jumla. The nomenclatures were providing loopholes to unscrupulous officers. By carrying out an amendment in the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961, the nomenclatures should be deemed to be shamlat land under the control and management of gram panchayats, the panel suggested.
The panel also recommended that the overall supervision of shamlat land be entrusted to the Collector by way of appropriate amendments. Also, there should be a regular audit of the shamlat land.
The panel said that law should be suitably amended to the effect that no registering authority shall register a sale deed, where the land in terms of the revenue record is or was shamlat land, without the Collector’s prior approval.
It reiterated its earlier suggestion of having special Benches to monitor issues arising out of its reports on land grab. Also, persons and societies shown to be in possession of shamlat/panchayat land should be issued notices and the process to dispossess them undertaken.
“Officers/officials of the revenue/consolidation department found involved should be punished suitably,” it added.
