Changes in revenue law reduces litigations

According to the amended acts,no authority except the first appellant authority will remand the case to a lower authority to decide the case afresh and no appeal would lie against interim orders passed by the revenue officer. Thus,litigants will not have to shuttle between the different authorities.

Commissioners have also been empowered to call for a record of any case pending or disposed of by any revenue officer and pass orders as they think fit. Earlier,applicants in partition cases were not required to submit proposed plans of division and the mode of separation was decided by assistant collectors.

After the amendments,applicants will have to submit the proposed plan of partition,keeping in view the quality and location of the land along with the reasons and a copy of the jamabandi. The revenue officers can disallow the partition only when it is in respect of land for public use.

A new clause has been added to allow revenue officers to refer the matter for mediation by elders. After such a settlement,provision has been made to give recognition to it,the statement said. Amendments in the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act,have ensured that tenancy would be for a fixed term and the word ‘male’ has been deleted,giving women equal rights.