Addl commissioner of Revision Court flags land scam, urges action against illegal RoR changes by tehsildars
BHUBANESWAR: The land administration system in the state, particularly in the most sought after capital region, seems to have fallen into a vice like grip of the land mafia and real estate operators with tehsildars playing the role of obliging facilitators.
The extent of corruption has been exposed by the additional commissioner of the Additional Revision Court, Bhubaneswar, Pradeep Kumar Nayak highlighting how tehsildars in Khurda district have illegally effected mutations and corrected record of rights (RoRs) by undermining and subverting the law.
In a letter (accessed by The New Indian Express) to the additional chief secretary (ACS) of Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) department, the additional commissioner of Court-I, II and IV has flagged serious concerns over illegal land mutations and arbitrary corrections in RoRs by the tehsildars of Bhubaneswar and Jatni in connivance with real estate operators and land mafia.
'During hearings in the court, it was found that the tehsildars of Bhubaneswar and Jatni have corrected RoRs involving transaction of the suit land in Sabik (old) RoRs, which is illegal and arbitrary. This undermines the authority of the Board of Revenue and the R&DM department as the illegal mutation is not tenable in the eyes of law and they have clearly guided by pecuniary/extraneous considerations,' the letter stated.
Stating that the illegal mutations by tehsildars is nothing but a blatant violation of the Orissa High Court's judgment in Harihar Mohapatra vs Commissioner of Land Records and Survey (OJC No. 9621/1996) case, the additional commissioner said, the judgment clearly prohibits tehsildars from admitting mutation applications related to pre-settlement land transfer transactions that occurred before the final publication of Sabik RoRs.
Acting on the verdict, the state government had issued an order in May 1999, restricting revenue officers from entertaining such mutation requests. 'It is a corrupt and criminal practice as there have been cases of illegal settlements/RoR corrections of government land/deity land/common property resources.
This amounts to disrespect to law abiding citizens fighting their cases in revision courts and it is a case of criminal conspiracy by tehsildars and builders/land mafia by bypassing Revision Courts,' the letter state.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu sets target to complete 1,040 km of national highways this year
VIJAYAWADA: Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu set a target of completing 1,040 km of National Highways (NH) in the current financial year with an outlay of Rs 20,067 crore. In a review meeting with the officials of R&B, NHAI, and the contractors executing works on Monday, Naidu stated that all issues related to land acquisition, forest, and wildlife clearance should be resolved by the end of July. Naidu expressed dissatisfaction with the contractors for the delay in the execution of projects. He emphasised that no road construction should be delayed in the future. Meanwhile, officials informed the chief minister that 770 km of roads were completed during the last fiscal year under NHAI and MoRTH with an investment outlay of Rs 11,325 crore. The state has a total of 8,744 km of roads, including 4,406 km of NHAI roads, 641 km under PIU-MoRTH, and 3,697 km under NH(R&B). Currently, 3,483 km of roads are under construction across 144 projects under NHAI and MoRTH with an investment of Rs 76,856 crore. Some projects are set to begin soon, including 1,392 km under NHAI and 2,091 km under MoRTH. As part of the 'Mission Pothole-Free Roads' initiative launched by the chief minister in November last year with Rs 860.81 crore, officials explained that 97% of the work was completed as of June 6. They stated that potholes have been filled, and repairs completed on 19,475 km of roads. Officials mentioned that the remaining road repairs are expected to be completed by July 31. Land acquisition and funds allocation obstacles to be removed by the end of July. Target is to construct 1,040 km of National Highways this year. Chief minister Chandrababu reviews road development. Rs 76,286 crore worth of 144 road projects were taken up by NHAI and the state govt. Naidu expressed dissatisfaction over the current pace of works being done. The Chief minister directed the officials to take necessary measures.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
One held for impersonating as CMO staff, extorting Rs 2 lakh from government official
BHUBANESWAR: Police have arrested a fraudster for allegedly impersonating as a staff of the chief minister's office (CMO) and extorting Rs 2 lakh from a government official by threatening to transfer him to Malkangiri district. The victim Pratap Kumar Haripal, working as superintending engineer in Roads and Buildings (R&B) division in Angul, lodged a complaint in this regard with Airfield police on Tuesday. In his complaint, Haripal alleged that a man identified as Janakiballav Mohapatra contacted him over phone a few months back and claimed that he was working in the CMO.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Bhatti Vikramarka Vows to Turn Palamuru's Drylands Green with Timely Completion of Lift Irrigation Project
Mahabubnagar: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka reiterated the Telangana government's firm commitment to completing the long-delayed Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme and transforming the parched lands of Mahabubnagar into fertile agricultural zones. Speaking at a massive public meeting after laying foundation stones for power infrastructure projects worth ₹72 crore in Moosapet mandal of Devarakadra constituency, the Deputy CM accused previous governments of neglecting the region and misleading people with hollow promises. Bhatti Vikramarka laid the foundation for one 132/33 kV substation and twelve 33/11 kV substations, signaling the government's intent to improve power supply to rural and farming communities. He announced that all necessary funds for completing the irrigation project—including for resettlement, rehabilitation, and land acquisition—will be released without delay. He cited the approval of ₹70 crore for the Uddandapur R&R package as evidence of the government's sincerity. He sharply criticized the previous BRS regime, questioning why the Palamuru-Rangareddy project, launched in 2015 with a foundation stone laid by then CM K. Chandrashekhar Rao, remained incomplete even after ten years. He condemned the symbolic activation of pumps just before elections as nothing more than a publicity stunt and stated that the Congress-led administration, under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, is now working with a genuine people-centric approach. The Deputy CM also highlighted key welfare initiatives being rolled out by the government. He noted that 4.5 lakh houses are being constructed under the Indiramma Housing Scheme with an allocation of ₹22,500 crore. For Devarakadra alone, 3,500 houses have been sanctioned. Other major schemes include 24x7 free power supply to farmers, free 200 units of domestic electricity to 50 lakh households, free RTC travel for women, and the launch of the 'Rajiv Yuva Vikasam' scheme to support five lakh unemployed youth. He also announced the ₹12,600 crore 'Indira Solar Girijana Vikasam' for the benefit of tribal communities through solar pumps, borewells, and cultivation support on 6.7 lakh acres. At Nawabpet in Jadcherla constituency, Bhatti Vikramarka laid the foundation for a 132/33 kV substation with an outlay of ₹42 crore and sixteen 33/11 kV substations costing ₹54.37 crore. In his address, he slammed the previous government for betraying Palamuru and assured that the Congress government would set a new benchmark in governance. On this occasion, 200 sewing machines were distributed to minority women and Indiramma housing documents were handed over to beneficiaries. The event witnessed the participation of Ministers Jupally Krishna Rao, MLAs Anirudh Reddy, Madhusudan Reddy, and Megha Reddy, District Collector G. Vijayendra Boi, and senior officials from TRANSCO, TGSPSCDL, and other departments. DCCB Chairman Vishnu Vardhan Reddy was also present. Several development proposals including new hospitals, colleges, transformer repair centers, and trauma care units were also discussed during the meeting.
