Rationalization of Patwar Halqas and GQ Circles in J&K: A must

By: Meraj Zargar

The delimitation of administrative units (such as districts, Tehsils, subdivisions, and Nayabats) in Jammu and Kashmir has been conducted by several commissions over the years. These commissions were primarily tasked with recommending the creation of new administrative units to improve governance and public service delivery. The creation of new administrative units was aimed at improving the efficiency of governance. With growing population, the existing boundaries often became unmanageable, leading to a need for smaller, more manageable administrative units like Tehsils, Nayabats, Municipalities, Panchayats, Districts, Sub-Divisions and Sub-Districts.

The commissions helped in decentralizing administrative control, bringing government services closer to the people. This made it easier for local authorities to address the needs of smaller communities, fostering better responsiveness and faster decision-making. The primary goal was to ensure a fair and equal distribution of resources across the region. It was believed that redistributing administrative boundaries could provide more balanced, attention to underdeveloped or neglected areas, promoting overall development.

These commissions played a crucial role in rethinking political representation at local levels. By restructuring administrative units, they ensured that populations were better represented in local bodies and elections, taking into account the demographic changes and population growth. In many cases, the commissions sought to provide a better framework for inclusive development by considering the geographic, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the region. This meant ensuring that marginalized or less-represented communities had a stronger voice and were given access to administrative services.

The most important aspect of the Delimitation of administrative units facilitated better functioning of local governance structures, such as Panchayats and Municipalities. Smaller and more manageable administrative boundaries allowed local bodies to function more effectively and be more responsive to the needs of the population.

Wazir Commission (1981-1984)reorganized administrative units in J&K and the key recommendations helped in creation of new districts, Tehsils, and blocks. The districts of Pulwama, Kupwara, Budgam, and Doda were created based on its recommendations. Then came the S.S. Bloeria Committee (1999-2000) which reviewed and suggest further administrative restructuring in the shape of new sub-divisions, Tehsils, and blocks to enhance administrative efficiency. However, the recommendations were partially implemented.

J.N. Ganai Committee (2006) examined further reorganization of administrative units in J &K and proposed creating new districts, Tehsils, and sub-divisions. Many of its recommendations were considered in the 2007 district reorganization.

Apart from that, major District Reorganizations in J&K in 2007 Administrative Reorganization (Under Ghulam Nabi Azad’s government) created 8 new districts, increasing the total from 14 to 22. New districts formed were Kishtwar, Ramban, Reasi, Samba, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kulgam, &Shopian.

Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai Commission (2011-2014) proposed to conduct a comprehensive review of administrative units in J&K and recommend new administrative units. The recommendations led to the creation of 659 new administrative units, including 22 new sub-divisions, 77 new Tehsils and135 new Nayabats, aimed at improving local governance, especially in remote and underdeveloped areas.

Astonishingly, with the creation of the new administrative units, the basic and fundamental Units of functioning at gross root level, which is Patwar Halqas, were not created. The century old Patwar Halqa and GQ Circle System still exists in J&K. There are tens of instances where a single Patwari is in charge of 8 to 10 villages, and the work load has enormously increased since last century due to the population explosion and the expansion of the services. This overburdened mechanism involving a Patwari results in delay of services and in many cases breeds corruption.

The onus of the development or progression at gross root level lies with the creation of new Patwar Halqas. Unfortunately, politicians (Legislators) or the bureaucracy since last 7 decades have not considered or worked on this important issue. The Unitization of Revenue Department has not been updated even after the recommendations of the various commissions. The population has expanded many folds with multiple service expansion. The modern state is demanding a number of services from Revenue Dept (Patwari) which can only be provided with ample number of Patwaris (Manpower).

The nature of job of Patwaris, representing administration at village level, is not limited just to revenue works but all the line departments, and most of the services are time bound. A Patwari with a charge of 8-10 villages can’t be a superhuman to be present at all the villages at one time. Resultantly, the people suffer and the most workaholic servant of the government earns a bad name.

A plethora of Services is to be provided online by Patwari Halqa and this demands thorough scrutiny and proper field verification so that the services are provided in time bound manner which demands complete rationalization and overhaul of Revenue Department. The below mentioned matrix has to be updated with immediate effect;

With such an ugly scenario, where population has almost doubles since 75 years, number of Districts has tripled, number of Tehsils has doubled, number of Nayabats has doubled, numerous Sub-divisions and Sub-Districts have come up, but the basic and the fundamental revenue institution of a Patwar Halqa and a Girdawar Circle has remained the same, which by all means is a shame, as it disrupts the modes of progression, bring in a standstill, breed corruption and puts the general public at the mercy of an age-old and unchanged system. It becomes the prime duty of the Legislators and the bureaucracy at the helm of affairs to comprehend the matter with seriousness and take it up in the highest corridors of administration and government, so that a proper and comprehensive program of unitization of the basic unit of governance and administration; a Patwar Halqa, should be taken up, which shall pave a way for better hassle free services to the common people at gross root level and will help in eradicating corruption.