STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday registered a case against Ex-Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar–the then Patwari Halqa Sunjwan and others for illegal mutation of land records.
“ACB registered a formal case FIR No. 17/2025 under Section 5(1) (d) r/w section 5(2) of J&K PC Act, Svt. 2006 & section 120-B RPC at Police Station ACB Jammu against Aslam Din, the then Tehsildar (Settlement) Jammu (now expired), Mohd Iqbal Zargar, the then Patwari Halqa Sunjwan (now retired as Naib Tehsildar) as well as beneficiaries Mohd Rashid, son of Imam Din, resident of Jalalabad Sunjwan Jammu, Mohd Mushtaq, son of Bashir Ahmad, resident of Sunjwan Jammu and others, on the outcome of verification conducted into the allegations of illegal and fraudulent tampering of the revenue record of original owners in order to confer undue pecuniary benefit upon beneficiaries and corresponding wrongful gain to themselves,” ACB official said.
The official added, “The verification conducted revealed that mutation No. 689/Jeem was attested under section 121 of J&K Land Revenue Act covering land under khasra Nos. 918, 970, 994, 1024, 1623 & 1623 min at Village Sunjwan, Tehsil Bahu, District Jammu on March 27, 2010 by the then Tehsildar (settlement) Jammu. The land measuring 15 Kanals 14 Marlas was registered on the name of beneficiary Mohd Rashid and land measuring 69 kanals was registered on the name of beneficiary Mohd Mushtaq and others.”
Financial Commissioner, Revenue J&K vide order dated September 26, 2017 set aside the impugned mutation No. 689/jeem dated March 27, 2010 in question and directed to restore the entries which were existing prior to attestation of said mutation, official said.
Further, as per Land Revenue Act, the attestation of mutation under Section 121 Land Revenue Act could be made only by settlement officer but in the instant case, the mutation was attested by then Tehsildar, Settlement which was beyond his powers, official added.
The mutation in question was entered by the then Patwari Halqa, Sunjwan namely Mohd Iqbal Zargar when he was not posted in the aforesaid Patwar Halqa.
“The mutation No. 689/jeen dated March 27, 2010 was also attested in violation of Para-9 of standing order No. 23-A, as the same mutation No. 689/jeem has already been attested in the year 2008 in the same village (i.e., two mutations having same serial nos. 689/jeem were attested in the years 2008 & 2010 in the same village),” official said adding that further investigation is going on.