Deed registration on forged papers: Administration yet to take action against revenue officials

The administration have so far failed to take action against revenue officials, who were prima facie found to be involved in the registration of a sale deed on the basis of forged documents, in favour of a non-Himachal resident in Bhawarna sub-tehsil of Palampur last week.

Though Netra Metri, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Palampur, cancelled the mutation of the sale documents when the issue was highlighted in these columns, no action was taken against the naib tehsildar and patwaris, who executed the sale deed and prepared a fake agriculture certificate, which was belonged to a third person.

It may be recalled that a land purchase case in Palampur, in gross violation of Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, of a non Himachal resident on the basis of forged documents had come to light.

Danish had got a sale deed registered in Bhawarna sub-tehsil on April 16, 2024, by attaching a forged certificate representing himself as an agriculturist from Himachal.

Later, during an investigation it was established that the certificate was forged and belonged to another person identified as Anvar.

When Anvar discovered that his certificate was missing, he lodged a complaint with the Kangra Deputy Commissioner (DC) seeking action against culprits who stole it.

Danish, son of Anvar, who was a non-Himachal resident, and could not buy land in the state without seeking relaxation of Section 118 from the revenue authorities, managed to get the sale deed registered. The investigation pointed towards connivance of revenue officials in registration of the sale deed.

The naib tehsildar, who had executed the sale deed on April 16, 2024, had also not verified documents before signing papers.