Registration of sale deeds resumes as revenue officials call off protest

The inconvenience faced by the general public at the offices of tehsildar ended today with revenue officials resuming their work. They were seen registering sale deeds of properties. The revenue officials had earlier stalled work as part of their protest against the state government.

To deal with the protest, the state government had taken a tough stand and deputed sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) and Kanungos to execute registration of sale deeds. Government functionaries had claimed that the employees were supporting corrupt officials against whom action has been taken.

The government has also ordered mass transfers of tehsildars and many of the new appointees joined their place of posting today. Meanwhile, the general public appeared to be pleased with the government for taking a tough stand.

“Corruption at tehsildar office is not a secret. Even in rural areas, a person has to pay at least Rs 4,000 for registration of a sale deed. In city areas, one has to pay Rs 2,000 to a patwari to get the ‘inteqal’ of property done,” said a resident Kuljeet Singh.

With a large number of people requiring ‘fard’ of their properties, they are always at the mercy of the revenue officials. Another resident Mandeep Singh said, “It is after a long time that any government has taken strict action against the high-handedness of revenue officials.”

Even as the Aam Aadmi Party had promised a ‘badlav’ (change), residents believe that it still can be made possible provided the government takes more such decisions to free residents from the clutches of corrupt officials.