Activist demands transparency in land record services
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 12 : In a serious allegation, Wahengbam Joykumar, a human rights defender, has accused officials of the Revenue Department of accepting money from the public for performing their duties without issuing transaction receipts (TR).
In this regard, Joykumar, a resident of Wangkhei Hijam Leirak, has written to the Revenue Commissioner to look into the matter and take actions against the erring officials.
In a letter submitted on February 10, Joykumar claimed that officials at the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records take between Rs 200 and Rs 300 from the public for providing copies of jamabandi, dag chitha, or trace maps.
He further stated that obtaining a certified copy of a computerised patta or other order copies from the SDO offices requires a payment of Rs 100 to Rs 200.
Joykumar also alleged that people are charged Rs 200 to Rs 500 for obtaining sale or gift deeds from the Sub-Registrar's office, in addition to a processing fee ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000.
For demarcation services, he alleged that officials take between Rs 3,000 and Rs 20,000, and added that officials routinely charge money for these and other land record-related services without issuing transaction receipts.
He claimed that officials ignore the work of individuals who do not pay the required money to have their tasks completed.
Stating that these officials receive their salary from taxpayer funds, he added that a transaction receipt should be issued if money is indeed required for obtaining documents or other copies from Government offices to ensure accountability and transparency.
He urged the Revenue Commissioner to look into the matter.
IMPHAL, Feb 12 : In a serious allegation, Wahengbam Joykumar, a human rights defender, has accused officials of the Revenue Department of accepting money from the public for performing their duties without issuing transaction receipts (TR).
In this regard, Joykumar, a resident of Wangkhei Hijam Leirak, has written to the Revenue Commissioner to look into the matter and take actions against the erring officials.
In a letter submitted on February 10, Joykumar claimed that officials at the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records take between Rs 200 and Rs 300 from the public for providing copies of jamabandi, dag chitha, or trace maps.
He further stated that obtaining a certified copy of a computerised patta or other order copies from the SDO offices requires a payment of Rs 100 to Rs 200.
Joykumar also alleged that people are charged Rs 200 to Rs 500 for obtaining sale or gift deeds from the Sub-Registrar's office, in addition to a processing fee ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000.
For demarcation services, he alleged that officials take between Rs 3,000 and Rs 20,000, and added that officials routinely charge money for these and other land record-related services without issuing transaction receipts.
He claimed that officials ignore the work of individuals who do not pay the required money to have their tasks completed.
Stating that these officials receive their salary from taxpayer funds, he added that a transaction receipt should be issued if money is indeed required for obtaining documents or other copies from Government offices to ensure accountability and transparency.
He urged the Revenue Commissioner to look into the matter.