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• The Maharashtra government has suspended 15 Revenue Department officials, including deputy collectors and tehsildars, over alleged irregularities in land record modifications.
• The action follows an official inquiry that identified suspected misuse of legal provisions governing corrections to land records.
• Authorities have ordered departmental proceedings and directed a broader review of similar cases across the state to detect potential irregularities.
• The government has also indicated that amendments to the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code will be considered to strengthen safeguards against future misuse.
The Maharashtra government has initiated disciplinary action against 15 officials from the Revenue Department after an inquiry uncovered alleged irregularities in the handling of land records. The move is part of a wider effort to improve transparency in land administration and ensure that statutory provisions intended for genuine record corrections are not misused for altering ownership details.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced that the suspended officials include deputy collectors, tehsildars and other revenue personnel who were found prima facie responsible for irregularities during the inquiry. The investigation centred on the use of provisions under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code that permit corrections in official land records under specific circumstances. According to the government, these provisions were allegedly used beyond their intended purpose in certain cases.
The action follows findings of an inquiry conducted into land record transactions within Pune division. During the investigation, authorities examined several cases involving changes to land records and identified a number of instances requiring disciplinary intervention. Based on the committee's findings, the government ordered immediate suspension of the concerned officials pending further proceedings.
Apart from departmental action, the state has directed that criminal proceedings be initiated wherever the investigation establishes violations of law. Officials facing suspension will undergo disciplinary inquiries under applicable service rules, while cases involving more serious allegations may result in stronger legal or administrative action depending on the outcome of investigations.
The government has also expanded the exercise beyond the initial inquiry. District collectors across Maharashtra have been instructed to review similar land record correction orders issued in recent years to determine whether statutory provisions were applied correctly. The objective is to identify any systemic issues and restore records wherever unauthorised alterations are detected.
Land ownership records form the basis for property transactions, inheritance, lending and revenue administration. Errors or unlawful modifications can lead to prolonged legal disputes, financial losses and uncertainty over ownership rights. The state believes a comprehensive review will help strengthen confidence in the land administration system while ensuring that genuine landowners are protected.
To prevent recurrence of similar issues, the Revenue Department has proposed amendments to relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code. The planned changes are expected to introduce stricter procedural safeguards, enhance scrutiny before corrections are approved and improve accountability within the revenue administration.
The suspensions reflect the state's broader focus on strengthening governance in land management and modernising revenue administration. As the statewide review progresses, the government is expected to examine additional cases and implement further corrective measures wherever irregularities are identified.
Source PTI
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