GUWAHATI, Feb 23 - The Assam State Information Commission has observed a few irregularities regarding land revenue records and several appeal cases were received seeking land mutation records in different circle offices of Kamrup (Metro) district.
�The most common grievance of such appellants was that without their knowledge, lands belonging to them were mutated in the name of some other persons. Unfortunately, when copies of such mutation orders were sought by the affected persons under the RTI Act, 2005, they were told that the relevant case records were missing. Taking note of the frequency of such missing mutation case records and suspecting manipulation of land records as well as possible involvement of land mafia in collusion with land revenue staff, State Chief Information Commissioner HS Das, by an order, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) to inquire into the matter,� said an official statement.
In compliance with the order of the State Chief Information Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner has already filed police cases against several instances of missing mutation case records.
�The Commission has also found anomalous land records where there are two sets of land records against the same plot of land in a second appeal case. The Chitha and Jamabandi maintained in the circle office showed the name of one title holder whereas the central records maintained in the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) showed the name of another owner. As such, the State Chief Information Commissioner, seeking an inquiry, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) to ascertain which set of records is correct � whether the land records of the DC Office or those maintained in the Revenue Circle Office. The Deputy Commissioner has further been directed to take necessary steps for correction of the land records and to fix responsibility,� said the statement.
In course of hearing on the second appeal case, the State Chief Information Commissioner observed that after scanning and digitisation of registered land sale deeds by a private company in pursuance of an agreement signed between the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) and a private company as part of the e-panjeeyan project, neither a substantial number of registered sale deeds were found not to have been digitised nor were the hard copies of the registered sale deeds returned by the private company to the office of the senior sub-registrar of the district.
�Taking a serious note of the possibility of misuse of such lost registered sale deeds by some unscrupulous elements to the detriment of unsuspecting land owners, the State Chief Information Commissioner has directed the senior sub-registrar to ascertain the actual number of such missing registered land sale deeds, while initiating further necessary action,� added the statement.