Corrupt patwaris: ‘Chief minister, take care of this or quit’

Chief justice incensed by corruption of patwaris and tehsildars in Lahore.

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court Chief Justice (CJ) Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry, on Tuesday, asked chief minister Shahbaz Sharif to take action against corrupt patwaris and directed Lahore DCO Ahad Cheema to submit details of the assets of tehsildars, naib tehsildars and patwaris serving in Lahore.

The DCO appeared in the court in a case against Kahna Circle patwari, Mehboob Sarwar, who had failed to provide farde malkiat (ownership certificate) to a petitioner despite a court order.

The CJ asked the DCO, “Do you know what patwaris are doing right under your nose?” He said that farde malikiat was being issued by patwaris after extorting large sums of money and senior officers were doing nothing about it.

Expressing concern over the patwaris’ conduct, the CJ advised the chief minister to take action against the corrupt patwaris or quit. The CJ instructed the DCO to convey the court’s concern to the chief minister.

The DCO said people should lodge complaints against delinquent patwaris. The CJ responded, “Do you think an ordinary citizen dare complain against a patwari, who can tamper with the record?”

Justice Chaudhry declared the Revenue Department the most corrupt in the country and said it seemed the authorities had turned a blind eye to the issues. “Patwaris are living in bungalows and they never do their job without illegal gratification,” the CJ said.

The CJ admonished the DCO for his apparent lack of concern towards corruption in the Revenue Department. He also criticised the ongoing anti-encroachment drive. The CJ said that bribes were being extorted from encroachers for not taking action against them.

The petitioner’s counsel informed the court that farde malikiat had been issued and his client’s grievance addressed. However, the CJ observed that the court would not abandon the matter simply because the certificate had been issued.

The CJ adjourned hearing till August 12 and directed the DCO to furnish details of the patwaris and others’ assets.

Petitioner Khalid Saeed submitted that on his writ petition a bench of the High Court had directed patwari of Kahna to issue him the farde malkiat without any delay but the patwari had ignored the orders. He said he also approached the DCO for the implementation of court orders but had gotten no relief.

The petitioner had sought contempt of court proceedings against the DCO.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2011.