Retd HC judge heads Revenue Commission

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 13

The state government has set up the Revenue Commission, headed by Punjab and Haryana High Court’s retired judge SS Saron.

Its mandate is to make existing laws and procedures on land administration in tune with the requirements of agricultural and non-agricultural uses, and propose new laws and procedures to make revenue administration more transparent.

The six-member panel includes Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) chairman and retired IAS officer NS Kang; former Head of Department (Economics), Punjabi University, Dr SS Gill; retired PCS officer Jaswant Singh; retired Managing Director of State Cooperative Bank GS Mangat; and Punjab Land Records Society (PLRS) adviser NS Sangha (another retired PCS officer).

A notification to this effect was issued by Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner Revenue, Housing and Urban Development, Vini Mahajan, here today.

She told The Tribune that the commission would suggest norms of population, area etc. for all administrative units such as divisions, districts, subdivisions, tehsils, sub-tehsils, kanungos and patwar circles.

The commission will examine the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887; Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887; Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972; and other related Acts and Manuals administered by the Department of Revenue to ascertain their relevance in the present scenario of land use and landholdings. It will suggest amendments in the existing Acts, Rules and Manuals and recommend repeal of the outdated ones.

It will also review the policies with regard to disposal/utilisation of government land, especially ‘nazool’, evacuee and ‘muafi’ lands and suggest amendments.

The commission will remain in existence for one year or as decided by the government. The chairman will be entitled to Rs 1.3 lakh honorarium per month, while the members, except Kang and Sangha, would be entitled to honorarium of Rs 5,000 per meeting. The chairman and the members will also be entitled to TA/DA for tours within and outside the state, as admissible to the Chief Secretary.

Other facilities such as staff, vehicles and telephones will be provided by the Revenue Department from PLRS funds.