Eight officials in the Devanahalli sub-registrar office are in the dock for allegedly misplacing a document pertaining to landowners.
Based on directions from the Information Commission, the Director General and Inspector General of Police has directed the Devanahalli police to register an FIR against eight officials — both retired and serving — under Section 9 of the Karnataka State Public Records Act.
In a complaint to the police, a senior sub-register of the Devanahalli taluk office said that the officials were responsible for misplacing records containing thumb impressions of both buyers and sellers. The officials are Vasanth Kumat (retired); senior sub-registrar Imtiyaz Ahmed; sub-registrar Nagabhushan; first division assistant Siddaramegowda, second division assistants Revindrappa and Kamakshmi, and Group D employees Narasimhaiah and Mathew K.K.
The incident came to light when a citizen Shivakumar sought copies of land records through RTI but was denied. He approached the State Information Commission, which sought an explanation from the officials. The officials claimed to have submitted the records to a court, but failed to mention which court and the date.
Taking serious note, the commission directed the Revenue Department to take disciplinary action and also wrote to the head of the State police to issue directions to the jurisdictional police to register an FIR.
"We have registered the FIR against eight employees of Devanahalli sub-registrar office and issued a notice asking them to present themselves for questioning,” a senior police officer said.
