The Telangana Revenue Employees Services Association has called for a revenue code for the new State of Telangana covering all the subjects handled by the Revenue Department. The existing laws framed in 1947 have become old. For this, a high-level committee headed by a retired High Court judge should be appointed.
The Association held a meeting here on Wednesday to discuss the role of Revenue employees in rebuilding the Telangana State. Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali, who was to be the chief guest, did not turn up. The members discussed various issues, including land matters, and wanted the machinery at the grass-root level to be strengthened for prompt delivery of services.
M. Kodandaram, TJAC chairman, suggested setting up of a revenue academy for training of the employees at the induction level. Such an institution existed during the Nizam’s time. He also underscored the need for a revenue tribunal to look into appeals and revisions on land matters besides addressing issues connected to ration cards.
Association president M. Shiva Shanker asked the government to undertake survey in the entire State so that the land disputes connected to it could be solved. The government should take the services of licensed surveyors as was the case in Karnataka. He wanted fresh examination of the village accounts in view of the formation of the new State. A required number of forms to maintain village accounts should be supplied to the VROs before the commencement of the Fasli year in a bound book form with the logo of the State, he said.
The Association wanted action to be taken under the Prohibition of Transfers (POT) Act, 1977 against all violators instead of taking selective action. This would help the government get considerable extent of land for its programme of distributing 3 acres of land to Dalits. It suggested revision of the list of assigned lands sent to registering officers and review of the regularisation of encroachments on government lands done under GO 508 of 1995.
The Association made a number of suggestions with regard to Bhoodan lands, evacuee property lands, Inam lands, tenancy lands, wakf and endowment lands. They would be presented for the consideration of the government shortly.
