HC stays transfer of patwaris, issues notices to senior officials

Raipur: The High Court of Chhattisgarh has stayed the transfer of patwaris, who had moved the court challenging a state government’s order, with immediate effect and issued notice to the senior officials of the revenue and disaster management department seeking their reply on the same. The single bench of justice P P Sahu heard the petition filed by the patwaris.
Patwari Alok Tiwari, who was posted at Halka No.21, Bilaspur district, was transferred to Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district following an order issued by the revenue and disaster management undersecretary on September 30.
Similarly, patwaris Suraj Dubey, Firoz Alam, Rajendra Sahu, Rakesh Kumar Pandey and Uttam Chandrakar, who were affected by the transfer, also moved the court challenging the decision. Petitioners Counsels Mateen Siddiqui, Sandeep Singh and Narendra Meher submitted that the district collectors are the appointing authorities of the patwaris and their seniority is decided as per the district. If the patwaris are transferred outside districts then their seniority gets affected.
Similarly, Section 104 of the Land Revenue Code empowers district collectors with the right to appoint and service, and in the amended order of clause 16 of section 5 of the Revenue Book Circular, the collectors have been given the right to transfer patwaris within their district. Justice Sahu issued a notice to the secretary and undersecretary of the revenue and disaster management department, while staying the transfer order, and sought their reply.
Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel had recently reviewed the work of the revenue department and took strong exception over the lackadaisical attitude of the department officials and employees, asking them to change their approach. The CM had made it clear that patwaris, who are posted in one place for more than three years, should be transferred to give momentum to the pending revenue cases and prevent corruption.
The CM later during a media interaction said that the transfer of patwaris and revenue officials has yielded results.