Village headmen system revived in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Liaqat Ali Chatha has revived the centuries-old numberdari (village headman) system, clipping the powers of revenue department officials.
According to a notification issued by the commissioner’s office, orders have also been issued to establish offices for the numberdars in all 27 tehsils of Rawalpindi Division.
A wide range of powers enjoyed by patwaris (village registrars or accountants) and tehsildars (revenue officers) have been devolved following the move.
Under the major decision, all the powers enjoyed by the numberdars prior to the abolition of the systems have been restored.
As per new rules, no patwari, tehsildar, naib tehsildar or a girdwar will be able to make a deed of inheritance without the signatures of a numberdar.
Chatha has also ordered appointments of numberdars at the earliest in villages without a village headman. The commissioner said that the village headman system was the most effective way to prevent irregularities in land inheritance.
Nambardar Association office bearer Malik Khalid termed the restoration of powers as a “revolutionary decision”, saying that it will bring transparency in the system of preparation of inheritance documents and property transfers. He said no revenue department official will be able to make a land inheritance certificate without the signature of a numberdar.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2023.