Online land records must be a ‘mirror copy’ of physical registers; no discrepancies allowed: Jharkhand High Court
High Court takes a strict stance on land record irregularities; directs all Circle Officers (COs) to verify and digitally sign records.
Ranchi: Expressing strong displeasure over the persistent irregularities in the state's online land records, the Jharkhand High Court has clearly stated that online land records must be a "mirror copy" of the physical registers. No discrepancy of any kind between the two records will be accepted. The Court has directed all Circle Officers (COs) in the state to verify the digital records by cross-checking them with physical records and to affix their digital signatures to them.
The matter stemmed from a petition filed by Ram Prakash Bhagat (alias Ram Prakash Oraon), a resident of Kuru Circle in Lohardaga district. The petitioner informed the Court that while his ancestors' names were correctly recorded in the physical records, the name of another individual had been entered in the online records and 'Register-2'. He sought a correction of the records and the issuance of rent receipts in the correct name.
During the hearing, the bench of Justice Anand Sen observed that a large number of cases involving serious discrepancies between online land records and physical records were reaching the High Court. The Court noted that errors regarding names, land area, *Khata* (account) numbers, and plot numbers were appearing in online records due to the negligence of data entry operators, human error, and a lack of proper verification, causing unnecessary hardship to the *raiyats* (landholders).
The Court remarked that there appeared to be no effective system for the verification and authentication of land records available on the online portal. Consequently, every Circle Officer must ensure that digital records are reconciled with the physical 'Register-2'. Following verification, the concerned CO must affix their digital signature, and only authenticated records should be displayed on the portal.
The High Court has directed the Secretary of the Department of Revenue, Registration, and Land Reforms to ensure immediate compliance with this order. It has also ordered the verification and necessary rectification of all digital records that have already been uploaded. The court disposed of the petition, directing the petitioner to submit an application within three weeks and the concerned CO to dispose of the matter within 12 weeks.
