Information Handbook Under RightTo InformationAct,2009 with Respect to Revenue Department [Section4(1)(b)1

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INTRODUCTION

The J&K RTI Act, 2009 as passed by the Jammu and Kashmir StateLegislature received the assent of the Governor on 20 March, 2009. Theobjective of the RTI Act as enshrined in its preamble is to establish a practicalregime for citizens to access information held by Public Authorities and in orderto promote transparency and accountability in public offices. The Act emanatesfrom what the Indian Constitution guarantees itself, Under Article 19 (1) (a)Wherein the Constitution guarantees every citizen freedom of speech andexpression with certain restrictions.

The objective of this handbook is to provide information to thepublic/common man about the functioning of the Revenue Department andmatters thereof.

PARTICULARS OF ORGANIZATION, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

In terms of First Schedule, Rule 4(1) of the Business Rules, followingsubjects are assigned to the Revenue Department.

1. Administration of E.P.

2. Agrarian Reforms."

3. Consolidation of Holdings.

4. Land Records.

5. Land Revenue.

6. Settlement.

7. Haj And Auqaf.

The Revenue Department functions under the Supervision and guidance ofthe Hon'ble Minister for Revenue and the Secretary to Government ,RevenueDepartment.

The Department plays a pivotal role in the administrative set up of theState. In fact the whole administrative machinery in the State hinges upon theRevenue hierarchy. The role of the department got further enhanced with thechanging scenario and introduction of various land reforms schemes and creationof new administrative units.

The department has implemented land mark decisions/policies of the StateGovernment like Big landed Estates Abolition Act and Agrarian Reforms Act. Theformer abolished feudalism in the State at a time when it was a dream for otherStates. Similarly under Agrarian Reforms Act the ceiling of land holdings wasrestricted to 12.5 Standard acres per family. The Agrarian Reforms which werestarted in late seventies in the State under J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976 havealmost been completed and as such Settlement Operations were started in theState in early nineties. The task has lately been undertaken on the modern lineswith the introduction of latest technology on land measurement available worldover. Accordingly the chain measurement system has been replaced byElectronic Total Stations (ETS) and the work is in full swing.

The Revenue Department forms the backbone of the Civil Administrationthrough which it reaches the remotest corners of the State. Land being the mostimportant and the material possession of the citizens, proper maintenance of itsrecords is of paramount public importance. The performance of the RevenueDepartment assumes significance as it secures social and economic welfare ofthe people.

• Maintenance and updation, preservation of land records and consolidationof land holdings.

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• Recovery of other Mise. loans, advances, out standings declared as arrearsof Land Revenue.

• To arrange land for Govt./Semi Govt. Departments for public purposes byway of Acquisition/allotment.

• To implement various Laws pertaining to land like Land Revenue Act ete.

• To protect Kahcharai and other State lands from encroachments/wrongfuluse.

• Issuance of certificates such as PRC, RBA, OBC, ST, SC and LOC ete.

• Settlement of disputes pertaining to land.

• To carry out land Reforms & Settlement Operations.

With a view to deal with the different issues pertaining to the RevenueDepartment, different sections have been set up. The brief description is asunder:-

1 GAZETTED ESTABUSHMENT SECTION: It deals with service matters ofGazetted cadre of RevenueDepartment.

2 NON-GAZETIED ESTABLISHMENT SECTION: It deals with the servicematters referred by the concerned HODs of Non- Gazetted officials, SRO-43cases, Regularization of Daily Wagers etc.

3 OFFICE ADMINISTRATION SECTION: It deals with the Establishment cases ofthe employees of the administration Department.

4 lAND ACQUISITION SECTION: Matters dealing with acquisition of land forpublic purpose as authorized by the law, under the land Acquisition Act, issuespertaining to it. "

5 GENERAL SECTION: It deals with COS meetings, Communications receivedfrom Government of India as well as from his Excellency the Governor of J&K,Questions of Parliamentary affairs and Rajya Sabha/ J&K Legislative Business,Grievances, PSGA, dispatch/receipt sections of the Revenue Department.

6 HAl & AUQAF: The State Haj Committee is under overall control of the StateGovt. and has limited functional relationship with the Haj Committee of India andthrough it with the Ministry of External Affairs. To administer the Shrines andother Waqaf property.

7 SETTLEMENT SECTION: All land related issues, settlement of land records,Issue Pertaining to transfer of land to various departments / lease cases ,landdispute etc.

8 NAZOOL SECTION: Management of all Nazool land for public purposes andissues related to it.

9 E.P SECTION: Maintenance and management of evacuee's property and theirconcerned issues.

10 LEGAL SECTION: The primary job of this section is to prepare draft para-wisereplies to the litigation cases pending in the Hon'ble High Court and in thesubordinate courts in liaison with the standing counsels of the department andascertain the status of these cases for follow up along with PRCcancellation.

11 PlANNING SECTION: The planning sections plays important role in thedevelopmental issues of the department including formulation of plans, underthe plan resources of the department and release of funds for subordinateoffices, monitoring of expenditure etc.

12 ACCOUNTS SECTION: This section deals with all financial matters of thedepartment as well as subordinate offices under non-plan sectors and monitoringof expenditure thereof etc.

13 RIGHT TO INFORMATION SECTION: The pivotal role played by this section isto put up the applications submitted by the public for seeking information underRTI Act, 2009. The PIG facilitates on behalf of department by providingavailable/existing information to the Information Seeker, within the stipulatedtime period.

14 LAW BRANCH (LB) SECTION: The role played' by this section is to providePRe powers and deals with land compensation cases.