SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said no new Patwar Halqa or Girdawar Circle has been created since the issuance of a 2014 order that led to the creation of new administrative units across the Union Territory.
The Revenue Department made the statement in response to a starred question by MLA Sajjad Shaheen on the creation of new Patwar Halqas.
According to the department, Government Order No. Rev(S) 169 of 2014, dated July 18, 2014, sanctioned 46 new sub-divisions, 135 new tehsils and 301 new Niabats. The order specifically provided that the geographical limits of the newly created and adjoining administrative units would be notified separately and that orders for the creation of new Patwar Halqas would be issued separately.
A subsequent Government Order, Rev(S) 242 of 2014 dated October 21, 2014, sanctioned another nine sub-divisions, 50 tehsils and 99 Niabats.
However, the latter order was kept in abeyance through Government Order No. 42-Rev(S) of 2018 dated February 20, 2018, except for certain tehsils. These included Villgam and Qalamabad in Kupwara, Singhpora and Narwav in Baramulla, Bhella in Doda and Ramsu in Ramban.
The Revenue Department said that despite these administrative changes, no new Patwar Halqa or Girdawar Circle was created after the July 18, 2014 order.
On Tehsil Ramsu, the government clarified that it was not created under the July 2014 order but under the subsequent order of October 21, 2014.
The post of Tehsildar for Ramsu has not yet been created, the department said, citing administrative considerations. The proposal is currently under examination, while the Tehsildar, Ukhral, has been given additional charge of the tehsil as an interim arrangement.
The government also referred to the district-wise position of Patwar Halqas and Girdawar Circles contained in an annexure to its reply.
It said Government Order No. 60-JK(Rev) of 2025, dated August 14, 2025, constituted a committee to examine amendments to subordinate recruitment rules, rationalise cadre-wise posts of Patwaris and accordingly rationalise Patwar Halqas and Girdawar Circles.
The department said the committee’s report is currently under process.
The issue assumes significance in the context of the creation of 4,290 Panchayat Halqas, with the question also seeking details on whether the government proposed aligning Patwar Halqas with Panchayat Halqas in rural areas and urban local body wards in urban areas.
The government, however, said the rationalisation exercise is being examined through the committee constituted under the August 2025 order.
