Public services hit as Revenue Deptt faces staff crunch

Srinagar, Oct 9: The shortage of staff in the revenue department across Kashmir has severely impacted daily operations in revenue offices, causing significant inconvenience to the general public.

From the posts of Tehsildar to Naib Tehsildars and Patwaris, the J&K government has failed to fill the vacant positions, adding to the workload of the existing staff.

This shortage of officers and other personnel in revenue offices has greatly hampered the functioning of the department, leading to unnecessary delays in the delivery of essential services.

According to official figures, seven Patwari positions are vacant in the Tangmarg Tehsil of Baramulla district, with existing staff members assigned additional responsibilities for these areas.

Currently, eight Patwaris in Tangmarg are managing additional charges for other areas where no Patwaris have been appointed.

These official details were provided by the Revenue Office of Tehsildar Tangmarg in response to an RTI application filed by MM Shuja.

In addition to the Patwaris, two Naib Tehsildar positions are also vacant in the Tehsil, specifically for Naib Tehsildars Hajibal and Khaipora.

Official data reveals that two Tehsildar posts, 13 Naib Tehsildar positions, and 87 Patwari posts are vacant in the district.

In Ganderbal district, two Tehsildar positions, one Naib Tehsildar, and three Patwari positions remain unfilled.

As previously reported, approximately 80 positions have been vacant in the revenue department in Srinagar for several years, severely hindering the department's functioning and causing unnecessary delays in essential service delivery.

According to official documents, most of these positions have remained unfilled due to retirements without any replacements being made. Some officials retired as far back as 2019, and there has been no replacement for these positions to date.

An official stated that the vacant positions in the department create inconveniences for the public, as the existing officers are overburdened with additional assignments.

The revenue department typically experiences a high volume of visitors seeking assistance from Patwaris and Girdawars for various day-to-day issues, including land record maintenance, property registrations, and the issuance of different certificates.

"The available staff is overwhelmed with additional responsibilities and is struggling to meet the growing demand for services," said the official, who wished to remain unnamed.