Private Draftsmen with Revenue Dept: Civil society voices ask for role definition, regulation

Civil society demands accountability, transparency in revenue-linked land assessments

SRINAGAR: Amid growing concerns over the integrity of land dispute resolutions in Kashmir, civil society groups and landowners are raising red flags about the increasing reliance of the Revenue Department on private, unregistered draftsmen for land demarcation and measurements, especially in sensitive property cases.

Owing to chronic staff shortages, particularly a lack of trained assistants to Patwaris and other  field staff, the Revenue Department has been informally engaging private draftsmen to assist in delineation of Milkiyat (private) and non-Milkiyat (state or common) lands, including those under judicial process or involving multi-party disputes.

However, in the absence of clear registration or vetting protocols, serious allegations of bias, manipulation and malpractice are surfacing.

Multiple landowners told Ziraat Times that some of these draftsmen are operating at the behest of parties who offer them strong incentives.

“This is a serious new trend. They are sometimes offered meals and hospitality at demarcation sites — and then submit reports tilted in favour of those who fed them,” said a landowner from Chadoora, speaking on condition of anonymity.

One land owner said that he is filing a legal case against a draftsman group, who, instead of following the land owner’s ownership and possession prepared a report favouring a land mafia party. He also alleged that instead of following the Revenue Depsrtment protocol, the private demraftsmen group shared their initial reports, without being approved by the owner, with the mafia party.

“I am filing a case in the court against the group. This injustice has gone too far”, said the aggrieved land owner.

The implications are far-reaching. Distorted demarcation reports, especially in areas already fraught with historic land ownership complexities, are not only exacerbating disputes but are also leading to a surge in court cases, burdening the judiciary and law enforcement agencies.

Several civil society organisations are now demanding that the Revenue Department immediately define the role, scope and accountability of such private individuals engaged in official land matters.

“We need a clear policy, periodic audits and a competency framework for any non-governmental actors involved in revenue-related functions,” said a spokesperson of a Srinagar-based governance reform group.

With land digitisation procesa bwing started afresh in J&K, and staff and resource shortages with the Revenue Department likely to aggravate, this issue is anticipated to get more complex if urgent steps are not taken.

Legal experts and retired Revenue officers have also flagged the risk of undermining land record sanctity, calling for urgent institutional reform.