Deputy collectors, tehsildars among 15 suspended by Bawankule for land revenue code misuse

Mumbai, Jul 10 (PTI) Cracking down on alleged misuse of Maharashtra Land Revenue Code provisions to carry out large-scale illegal activities and manipulate land records, state Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday announced suspension of 15 officials from the department, including those in the rank of deputy collector and tehsildar. Bawankule warned the action would not stop with suspension, adding that criminal cases would be registered against those found guilty, and some officials could also face dismissal from service. The minister also took cognisance of complaints regarding land grabbing and encroachments at the Tuljapur temple and announced that an inquiry committee has been formed under the Pune divisional commissioner. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab had raised the issue of the misuse of Section 155 of the Revenue Act during the previous legislative session. Following the completion of an inquiry by the Pune Division, the government has taken this decisive action. Section 155 is intended to be used only for correcting clerical or typographical errors in land records. However, officials allegedly misused this provision to make large-scale changes in land ownership records. Serious cases have come to light where properties belonging to one person were transferred into another person's name. In some cases, files were allegedly removed or destroyed to conceal evidence. Proceedings have been initiated to register criminal cases regarding these missing files under Public Records Act 2005, Bawankule said. "Serious irregularities have taken place where one person's property was transferred into another person's name. We have started a major process of re-verification and restoration of the lands to their original owners. No one will be shielded," Bawankule stated. The Pune Division inquiry found a total of 424 suspicious cases. In 13 cases pertaining to the most serious category, 15 officers and employees were found directly responsible and were suspended on Friday. The serious category, comprising 247 cases, saw disciplinary proceedings under Rule 8 being recommended for major punishment. In 164 cases in the minor category, inquiries will be conducted under Rule 10. Officials with more than 30 cases classified under category 'A' will face immediate suspension, while officials in category 'B' will be transferred outside the Pune Division to non-executive posts. Following the shocking revelations in the Pune Division, instructions have now been issued to all District Collectors to verify all orders passed under Section 155 during the last five years across Maharashtra, Bawankule said. The verification process has been given a deadline of three months, and an Action Taken Report (ATR) will be presented in the next legislative session. The government stated that misuse is not limited to Section 155, pointing out that provisions under Sections 70(B) and 85 are also allegedly being misused by officials. Since challenging decisions taken by lower-level officials has become difficult, the government's Law Committee is working to plug these loopholes. A major amendment bill to the revenue laws will be introduced in the next legislative session, he said. PTI PR BNM