Jammu & Kashmir: In a bizarre incident that reflects upon the total lack of order in the Revenue department which has for long been harping on digitization of land records, a piece of land measuring 166 kanals under khasra number 1049 situated in Chowadi has been reported ‘missing’ since May 2009.
The piece of land owned by Sham Lal and Parshotam Kumar both sons of Santokhu of village Chowadi in Jammu have been running from pillar tom post in the revenue department to relocate the piece of land, but have got nothing except assurances and empty recurring..
According to the owners, on June 28, 2007 they received a letter from Revenue Collector office through concerned Halqa Patwar, asking them to deposit token amount of Rs 100 per kanal for attestation of mutation in their favour for the said piece of land to get ownership rights as per provisions of The Jammu and Kashmir State Lands (Vesting of Ownership Rights) Act 2001(Roshni Act), under section 8 (3) of the Act.
As they moved to deposit the money, the owners of land came to know that there was no land in revenue record in their name. "Astoundingly, we were told that there was no land under khasra number 1049" said Sham Lal . Since then, with the letter from the department, the two brothers have been running through the hierarchy of the revenue department to get the facts right. "We met the Tehsildar and wrote to him, but to no avail" rued Sham showing copies of the letters written to him.
The struggle did not stop here and the land owners then approached the Deputy on January 14, 2010 who directed them to AC(R) but nothing yielded. They then approached the Divisional Commissioner on 16 January 2010 who ordered for enquiry and report but nothing came to the fore. Finally, the two Appeared before Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla who ordered the DC to investigate and furnish a detailed report which was never furnished.
Defeated and discouraged, the owners then registered a complaint on the CM’s grievance cell but nothing came through after lapse of over a year. Well informed sources revealed Kashmir Images that the piece of land in question has been allotted to M/S RBI Employees Cooperative Housing Society. Even owners alleged that the then patwari halqa Shabir Ahmed has distorted original papers in lieu of hefty amount. Strangely instead of reprimand, the patwari was rewarded with a promotion
Meanwhile, when contacted District Development Commissioner Sanjeev Verma said that he did not remember the case but the complainants should approach his office so that their issue could be addressed. "Without looking in the case summary it would be difficult to comment" said the DC. Minister for Revenue Raman Bhalla however could not be reached despite several efforts.
Senior advocate Bushan Gupta, who proposes to file a litigation on behalf of the aggrieved, while commenting on the issue said that he shall pursue the case on behalf of land owners in Vigilance department. He also expressed hope that justice would be done to land owners and those involved in bungling would be brought to book as per law of the land.