Madhya Pradesh Free Registry Scheme Faces Controversy as Patwari Association Raises Legal Concerns
The proposed free registry initiative under the Swamitva Scheme appears to be facing controversy, with the Patwari and Revenue Officers Association raising serious legal and practical concerns over the government’s implementation process.
Patwaris across the district have also expressed strong opposition to action taken against members of the cadre. As a mark of protest, several Patwaris reportedly left official government groups to register their displeasure.
Concerns Over Land Records and Verification
The Patwari Association has argued that moving ahead with the registry process without 100% verification of land records, correction of discrepancies and proper documentation could potentially lead to an increase in land-related disputes and litigation in the future.
The association has demanded that Patwaris be immediately relieved of the responsibility of acting as executors of the registry process until the legal and procedural issues are clarified.
According to the Patwari and Revenue Officers Association, the Swamitva Scheme is associated with the Panchayati Raj Department, while the role of Patwaris in population-settlement land records is primarily connected with referencing records and maintaining relevant revenue documentation.
Questions Over the Responsibility Assigned to Patwaris
The association has raised concerns about discrepancies in names, incomplete records and possible shortcomings in processes such as e-KYC.
According to the association, assigning responsibility for executing documents to Patwaris when such discrepancies remain unresolved could expose field-level employees to legal complications in the future.
A key question being raised is: If revenue officials at the Tehsildar and Naib-Tehsildar levels have also raised legal concerns regarding the process and the role of the concerned personnel, why should Patwaris be given the responsibility of executing the documents?
Association Seeks Legal Protection for Employees
The Patwari and Revenue Officers Association has called for several measures before the registry process is taken forward.
Its key demands include:
- Complete verification of land records at the village level.
- Correction of discrepancies and incomplete records.
- Proper verification of e-KYC and other documentation procedures.
- Immediate relief for Patwaris from the responsibility of executing the documents.
- Clear legal protection for government employees involved in the process.
- Consideration of a pause in the disputed procedure until the concerns are resolved.
- Formation of a high-level committee to examine and resolve the issues.
Protest Over Action Against Patwaris
The reported action against Patwaris has further intensified the situation. Patwaris across the district have expressed their dissatisfaction, including by leaving official government groups as a form of protest.
The association maintains that employees should not be assigned responsibilities that could expose them to legal consequences when the applicable procedures and accountability mechanisms are not sufficiently clear.
Free Registry: Relief for People or Future Land Disputes?
The proposed free registry initiative is intended to provide relief to citizens and simplify property-related documentation. However, the objections raised by the Patwari and Revenue Officers Association have shifted the focus toward the questions of responsibility, accountability and legal protection.
The key question now is: If a record contains an error or a land ownership dispute emerges in the future, who will be held responsible?
There are also concerns over whether the legal risk could ultimately fall on lower-level field employees who are involved in the documentation process.
The next steps will depend on how the government responds to the concerns raised by Patwaris and revenue officials. It remains to be seen whether the administration modifies the existing procedure, provides legal safeguards to employees, or establishes a high-level mechanism to resolve the dispute before proceeding with the free registry process under the Swamitva Scheme.
