Collectors posted in last 20 years to face action
A revenue officer left the region without surrendering land record
Counsel says club established under valid agreement. PHOTO: LHC.GOV.PK
LAHORE:
Lahore High Court on Friday directed the Board of Revenue senior member to take action against all officers posted as collectors (consolidation officers) in the Gujranwala region in the last 20 years for their failure to hold accountable a revenue officer who left charge of his office 20 years ago without handing over record of mutations.
Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan passed the order, rejecting a report submitted by Consolidation deputy secretary on the matter. The judge observed that the report was the same as an earlier report filed on behalf of the respondents. He said the respondents had yet to retrieve missing mutations from the district record room. The report identified the revenue officer as Amjad Farooq. It said he had not surrendered missing mutations at the time of his transfer 20 years ago. A criminal complaint was lodged against him on June 17, 2016.
In the order, Justice Khan observed: “the entire hierarchy of the Consolidation Department is responsible for lack of appropriate action against the delinquent official.”
“Board of Revenue senior member is, therefore, directed to initiate proceedings against all officers who remained posted as collectors (Consolidation officers) in Gujranwala region during the last 20 years,” he said. “It is a matter of extreme importance because rights of property owners are involved in it. Unfortunately, no serious efforts are being undertaken despite indulgence of this Court for a couple of years.”
The judge also directed the BoR senior member to convene a departmental meeting to start locating revenue units with their districts whose record was missing. He said a detailed report in this regard should be submitted to him as well as the chief minister so that the matter was brought to the latter’s notice as well. He accepted the Additional Advocate General’s request for a last opportunity to ensure completion of record of Baddu Malhi revenue unit. He observed that contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against the suspects if compliance with court orders was not ensured before the next date of hearing. The hearing was adjourned till September 28.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2016.
Lahore High Court on Friday directed the Board of Revenue senior member to take action against all officers posted as collectors (consolidation officers) in the Gujranwala region in the last 20 years for their failure to hold accountable a revenue officer who left charge of his office 20 years ago without handing over record of mutations.
Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan passed the order, rejecting a report submitted by Consolidation deputy secretary on the matter. The judge observed that the report was the same as an earlier report filed on behalf of the respondents. He said the respondents had yet to retrieve missing mutations from the district record room. The report identified the revenue officer as Amjad Farooq. It said he had not surrendered missing mutations at the time of his transfer 20 years ago. A criminal complaint was lodged against him on June 17, 2016.
In the order, Justice Khan observed: “the entire hierarchy of the Consolidation Department is responsible for lack of appropriate action against the delinquent official.”
“Board of Revenue senior member is, therefore, directed to initiate proceedings against all officers who remained posted as collectors (Consolidation officers) in Gujranwala region during the last 20 years,” he said. “It is a matter of extreme importance because rights of property owners are involved in it. Unfortunately, no serious efforts are being undertaken despite indulgence of this Court for a couple of years.”
The judge also directed the BoR senior member to convene a departmental meeting to start locating revenue units with their districts whose record was missing. He said a detailed report in this regard should be submitted to him as well as the chief minister so that the matter was brought to the latter’s notice as well. He accepted the Additional Advocate General’s request for a last opportunity to ensure completion of record of Baddu Malhi revenue unit. He observed that contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against the suspects if compliance with court orders was not ensured before the next date of hearing. The hearing was adjourned till September 28.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2016.