J&K govt empowers all Sub-Divisional Magistrates with Collector’s powers

Ziraat Times Spotlight Report

Srinagar, July 30: In a significant move aimed at decentralising revenue administration and expediting the disposal of land-related cases, the Jammu & Kashmir Government has conferred the powers of Collector on all Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) across the Union Territory under the Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, Samvat 1996.

The decision, notified through S.O. 212 issued by the Revenue Department on July 30, 2026, authorises all SDMs to exercise the powers of Collector under the Land Revenue Act within their respective territorial jurisdictions.

Ziraat Times, through various columns and reports in recent years, has been regularly emphasising for the need of this step.

The notification states that the government has exercised the powers conferred under sub-sections (4) and (5) of Section 6 of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, Samvat 1996, to delegate these powers to SDMs.

The order has been issued by the Revenue Department under the authority of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and is signed by Rajeev Ranjan, IAS, Secretary to the Government. It bears notification number Rev-Sett/158/2024 (7581978).

What the powers entail

Under the Jammu & Kashmir Land Revenue Act, the Collector is the principal revenue authority responsible for exercising a wide range of quasi-judicial and administrative functions relating to land governance. By vesting these powers in SDMs, the government is expected to bring revenue justice closer to the public and reduce the burden on district-level revenue authorities.

The powers typically exercised by a Collector under the Act include adjudicating disputes relating to mutations, partition of land holdings, demarcation, correction of revenue records and other matters arising under the revenue laws. Collectors also supervise the functioning of subordinate revenue officers, oversee the maintenance of land records, conduct inquiries and inspections in revenue matters, and exercise appellate or revisional jurisdiction wherever provided under the law. They are also entrusted with powers relating to the assessment and recovery of land revenue and the implementation of various statutory functions concerning land administration.

Legal observers note that extending these powers to SDMs could significantly improve access to revenue justice by enabling many land-related matters to be decided at the sub-divisional level, reducing the need for litigants to approach district headquarters.

The move is also expected to ease the workload of Deputy Commissioners, who function as Collectors under the Land Revenue Act, and facilitate quicker disposal of pending revenue cases. However, the effectiveness of the measure will depend on the availability of adequate staff, infrastructure, and efficient case management within the revenue administration.

Officials point out that the notification delegates Collector’s powers only under the Jammu & Kashmir Land Revenue Act. It does not designate SDMs as Collectors under other laws, where powers will continue to be exercised in accordance with the provisions of the respective statutes unless separately delegated by the government.

The notification has been circulated to the Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners of Survey and Land Records, all Sub-Divisional Magistrates and other senior officers.

The latest delegation of powers is expected to strengthen decentralised land administration at a time when Jammu & Kashmir is undertaking extensive reforms in land governance, including digitisation of land records and modernisation of revenue services.