Jharkhand Land Revenue Minister Deepak Birua has issued a stern warning against Circle Officers (COs) who reject land-related applications citing technical reasons without justification. Identified officers engaging in such practices will now face strict action, he said.
Additionally, COs must provide clear and specific reasons in 50 words for rejecting or raising objections to land applications. The minister made these remarks while presiding over a review meeting of the Land Revenue and Land Reforms Department at the Project Building on Tuesday.
Minister Birua emphasized that officers often reject applications on the pretext of the Jharkhand Bhumi (JharBhoomi) site not functioning due to technical glitches. He made it clear that such excuses would no longer be tolerated. He further highlighted discrepancies in land-related matters at the regional level, leading to significant issues for the state government. He urged all Circle Officers to perform their duties with utmost honesty and responsibility.
Modern Record Rooms to Be Upgraded for Seamless Land Record Access
The minister also pointed out issues with Modern Record Rooms, where land records (Khatiyan) are often printed incorrectly or do not display properly in photocopies. He directed officials to resolve these discrepancies to ensure that landowners (Raiyats) can access their land details without hassle.
ALSO READ: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren bats for modern technology to enhance productivity
Furthermore, he stressed the need for translation facilities in Modern Record Rooms for Khatiyan documents written in Kaithi and Bengali scripts, ensuring accessibility for all landowners.
Focus on Rural Roads While Constructing ROBs
Addressing the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project, Minister Birua expressed concern that rural roads are often neglected during the construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs). He emphasized that leaving gaps below ROBs causes inconvenience to local communities. Additionally, he stressed the importance of timely compensation for land acquisition and directed NHAI officials to resolve land acquisition-related issues without delays.
Departmental Secretary Chandrashekhar highlighted the importance of achieving annual revenue collection targets. He announced that underperforming regions will undergo review, and corrective strategies will be implemented. Special monitoring of land revenue collection camps by LRDCs and Additional Collectors has also been mandated.
Implementation of Online Land Services
Land Revenue Director Bhor Singh Yadav provided a detailed report on various department initiatives, including:
– Addressing improper rejection of land mutation (Dakhil Kharij) applications.
– Enhancing the Web PN facility for seamless land services.
– Determining land tax (Bhu Lagaan) across districts and enabling online payment options.
– Resolving pending land demarcation cases efficiently.
He urged all officials to work in coordination for the timely execution of tasks and better service delivery to the public.
The high-level meeting was attended by Minister Deepak Birua, Secretary Chandrashekhar, Special Secretary Shashi Prakash Jha, Land Director Bhor Singh Yadav, and officials including LRDCs, Additional Collectors, and other senior district-level authorities.
