Retired tahsildars are reportedly being used for creating fake ‘Hakku Patra’ (title deed) by land-grabbers in the City outskirts.
Probing into a case of government land-grab in Doddaballapur taluk in Bangalore Rural district, Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi has directed the jurisdictional assistant commissioner to submit a report on available government land in the taluk, along with the original register.
A villager H V Kempegowda had filed a complaint with the Lokayukta that a former tahsildar, along with other revenue officials, created fake grant records to show that an excess of two acres of government land was granted to one individual in 1978.
The complainant was granted one acre of land at Majara Hosahalli village in Kasaba hobli in 1978 in survey number 57. Six others were granted lands to the extent of six acres and 12 guntas in the same survey number, including one Sanjeevachar, who was granted an acre. After these grants, two acres had remained as government ‘poda’.
In 1989, the KIADB acquired the land, including survey number 57, for industrial area.
Sanjeevachar, who was granted only an acre in 1978, claimed that his father Chinnappachar was granted three acres.
He filed an application in January 2005 for release of two more acres.
The then tahsildar Sampath Kumar allegedly passed an order, stating that three acres of land was granted in 1979.
Sanjeevachar’s name was mutated and ordered for correction of ‘pahani’ (RTC or Record of Rights, Tenancy and Cultivation) and revenue records showing a concocted MR (Mutation Register) 24/85/86.
“An enquiry found there is no such MR. The tahsildar corrected the records as though the available two acres of government land was granted in 1978.
A non-existing mutation entry in the name of Sanjeevachar was continued and two acres of government land was illegally transferred to Sanjeevachar’s children,” Justice Adi noted.
That is not all. Based on the tahsildar order, Chinmayachar, Manjunathachar and their mother Gayathri—heirs of Sanjeevachar—executed a sale deed for two acres in favour of K M Hanumantharayappa who thereafter sold it to one Anuradha Oswal.
The present tahsildar submitted to the Upalokayukta that the former deputy commissioner had ordered conversion of land for non-agricultural use.
The present tahsildar submitted that one M B Narasimhamurthy (a First Division Assistant clerk) has been suspended in this regard.
“It appears, however, that Revenue Inspector Narayanaswamy who is the signatory to the fabricated document is still in service and no action has been taken against him.
The village accountant, who submitted a false report, is also working. I have summoned the assistant commissioner to bring the records pertaining to government lands available in Doddaballapur taluk,” Justice Adi said.