'Exercise caution while processing land documents'

In view of the rampant encroachment of government land, Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban district V Shankar has given a slew of directions to the Revenue officials asking them to be careful before processing the documents/records pertaining to land.

In his latest circular, the deputy commissioner has said that henceforth, the officials should be 'extremely careful' while issuing khata, land diversion (conversion) the land use or issuing No Objection Certificates (NOC) on any land and verify all the revenue records. They should immediately report to the legal section and seek their opinion for further action.

Shankar said the Revenue officials should be cautious while issuing khatas to the properties, which are under litigation and on which cases are pending in various courts including the Supreme Court, High Court, DC, AC and Tahsildar courts.The DC said that if the directions come from the court for the khata of properties regarding which there are complaints either by the NGOs, public or negative reports in media, the officials must approach the legal section/cell.

In his circular, Shankar pointed out the mischief played by the land grabbers such as tampering with the government records, creating fictitious documents, inserting land allotment documents in the original records and destroy the original records.

He even cited the case of fictitious land dealing at Doddathoguru village in Bengaluru South Taluk.

Sources in the district administration said that a system oriented mechanism containing details of all the government survey numbers could be prepared as a ready reckoner, leaving no room for any mischief.