From Urdu Scripts to Digital Access: Lieutenant Governor Details Transformation of Land Governance in Jammu and Kashmir, Surpassing Madhya Pradesh in Online Services
LG Manoj Sinha revealed that, upon taking office in 2020, patwaris (local revenue officials) in Jammu and Kashmir held more power than District Collectors, due to an outdated system with inaccessible, Urdu-only land records.
The J&K administration, under PM Modi’s guidance, undertook a large-scale digitization of land records, creating the “Meri Zameen, Meri Nigrani” program, providing online access and land passbooks to ensure transparency and prevent fraud.
Numerous outdated and restrictive land laws, which hindered farmers and landowners (such as requiring permission to plant or cut trees on their own land), were abolished to promote agricultural activity and empower citizens.
As a result of these reforms, Jammu and Kashmir has surpassed Madhya Pradesh in providing online services, becoming a leader in land record digitization and demonstrating a shift to citizen-centric governance.
jj correspondent
Lucknow, March 20, 2025: In a candid revelation, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha disclosed on Thursday that, prior to recent reforms, local revenue officials known as patwaris wielded more power than even District Collectors in the region. Speaking in Lucknow, LG Sinha described this imbalance as a key factor driving the urgent need for comprehensive land record modernization.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, speaking at the birth centenary celebrations of acclaimed writer Shrilal Shukla in Lucknow on Thursday, painted a vivid picture of the transformative land reforms undertaken in the Union Territory since 2020. He candidly revealed that upon assuming office, he found a system where local revenue officials, known as patwaris, held more sway than even the District Collectors. This imbalance of power, he explained, was a symptom of a deeply flawed and outdated system.
“When I took charge in Jammu and Kashmir, the patwaris were more powerful than the Collector,” LG Sinha stated. He described a situation where land records were exclusively maintained in Urdu, rendering them incomprehensible even to senior administrative officers. “All the land records were in Urdu, and even the Collector was unable to understand what was written,” he elaborated. This opacity, he argued, created an environment ripe for exploitation and hindered effective governance.
The core of the problem, according to LG Sinha, was the undue influence of the patwaris and the inaccessibility of land records for ordinary citizens. To rectify this, the administration, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for digital governance, embarked on a comprehensive program to digitize land records and empower landowners.
“Earlier, patwaris were calling the shots, and the local residents were suffering. Now, people have direct access to their land records, and governance has become far more transparent,” LG Sinha declared. He highlighted the abolition of numerous “outdated and regressive” land laws that had previously burdened farmers and landowners. For instance, he cited the archaic requirement for landowners to obtain permission from the revenue minister simply to plant or remove trees from their own orchards.
The cornerstone of the reform was a large-scale land digitization drive. This initiative, dubbed “Meri Zameen, Meri Nigrani” (My Land, My Watch), aimed to provide clear land titles and prevent fraudulent transactions by distributing land passbooks to landowners. This digital transformation, LG Sinha emphasized, brought much-needed transparency and ease of access to land records, ending the era of patwari dominance.
Beyond digitization, LG Sinha also spoke about initiatives specifically designed to benefit refugees who had migrated from Pakistan. Under a new scheme, these displaced individuals were granted land and ownership rights, a move intended to provide them with long-term security and a sense of belonging.
The results of these reforms, LG Sinha proudly stated, have been remarkable. He announced that Jammu and Kashmir has now surpassed Madhya Pradesh in the provision of online services, establishing itself as a leader in the field of land record digitization. This achievement is a testament to the effectiveness of the reforms and the commitment of the administration to citizen-centric governance. The transformation described by LG Sinha represents a significant shift towards a more transparent, equitable, and efficient land management system in Jammu and Kashmir.
