SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has withheld three increments with cumulative effect for three revenue officials over an inaccurate land demarcation in Manjakote, Rajouri district, and barred them from independent field assignments for one year.
The penalty was imposed by Financial Commissioner (Revenue) J&K through Order No. 141-FC (Rev) of 2026, dated October 28, after a departmental inquiry found negligence and dereliction of duty in the demarcation carried out on July 15, 2020.
The officials penalised are Mohd. Khalil, the then BCG Manjakote; Mohd. Yaqoob, the then Patwari of PH Gambhir Mughlan; and Mohd. Tahir, the then Patwari of PH Galhuti.
According to the order, the case concerned conflicting demarcation reports over a shop constructed by Mohd. Yousuf in Manjakote, with the disputed land identified under Khasra No. 413 in one report and Khasra No. 547 in another.
The matter reached the Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court through WP(C) No. 2190/2021, Mohd. Yousuf and Another versus UT of J&K and Others. On December 1, 2023, the court directed the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) to verify the actual position on the ground and initiate proceedings against officials responsible for any false demarcation reports.
A fresh demarcation subsequently established that the shop fell within Khasra No. 547, which belongs to Mohd. Hafeez and others, with Mohd. Yousuf identified as one of the co-sharers in the land, the order stated.
The departmental inquiry found that the original demarcation was materially inaccurate and that the officials had failed to exercise adequate care and diligence while measuring the land and preparing the report.
The officials denied deliberate wrongdoing and cited adverse weather, standing crops, dense vegetation, sloping terrain and difficulties in identifying field boundaries as factors that affected the exercise. The inquiry report acknowledged these impediments but concluded that they did not absolve the officials of their professional responsibilities.
The inquiry officer recommended minor penalties, noting that there was no conclusive evidence of malicious intent, corruption or deliberate manipulation. However, the competent authority held that the charges of dereliction of duty and causing harassment to a citizen had been established.
The order stated that the failure to perform their lawful duties had subjected the landholder to considerable harassment, ultimately requiring the High Court to intervene.
The penalties have been imposed under Rule 30 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956.
