Govt Cracks Down on Revenue Official in Land Fraud Case, Seeks Criminal Action Against All Involved

jj correspondent
Jammu: In a significant development highlighting the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s commitment to accountability and protection of public land, the Revenue Department has imposed a major departmental penalty on former Patwari Chowadhi, Mohammad Rashid Malik, following the conclusion of a long-running inquiry into alleged irregularities involving revenue records and the unauthorized transfer of possession of State land.
The action stems from a complaint filed by Smt. Sandhya Devi, a resident of Gurha Salathia in Samba district, who alleged that she had purchased seven marlas of land in Chowadhi through a property dealer and was issued a Fard-i-Intikhab by the then Patwari. Subsequent verification, however, revealed that the land reflected in the revenue document was already under the possession of another individual who had constructed a residential house on the property years earlier.
Investigations further revealed that the complainant was allegedly handed over possession of land falling under Khasra No. 96, which was later found to be State land. Construction activity on the site was subsequently halted by the Vigilance Organization, now the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), after it was established that the land belonged to the government.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, departmental proceedings were initiated against the Patwari in 2016. The case witnessed a prolonged legal and administrative battle, including multiple challenges before the High Court,
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