Lawyers Protest Alleged Extortion by Revenue Officials in Balrampur

Lawyers Demand Action Against Revenue Officials for Alleged Extortion

The Cliff News | Balrampur | July 23, 2026 The District Youth Advocates Association has initiated a protest against alleged illegal collections by Patwaris (revenue clerks) and Kanungos (revenue inspectors) at the Sadar tehsil in Balrampur. Association President Mrigendra Upadhyay submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) on Thursday, urging a confidential inquiry and action against those found guilty.

The association claims that Patwaris and Kanungos are extorting substantial sums of money from farmers and the general public, particularly in the name of various government procedures, especially land measurement.

Allegations of Extortion and Land Irregularities

The memorandum states that for ordinary land measurements, demands range from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000, while for technical matters, this amount can escalate to ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh.

Mrigendra Upadhyay, President of the District Youth Advocates Association, further alleged that some Patwaris are colluding with cultivators to register ownership of their land in the names of their close associates. If the stipulated amount is not paid, alleged deficiencies are found in the measurements, causing work to be stalled for years.

It is also alleged that people are forced to pay for land measurements even in undisputed cases, and they cannot independently expedite the process themselves.

Request for Confidential Inquiry

The association has urged the SDM to conduct a confidential investigation into these allegations. They requested strict action against the concerned Patwaris and Kanungos if the charges are proven true.

The lawyers highlighted that such extortion is causing immense hardship to the general public and eroding their faith in government processes. Several other advocates from the association were present during the submission of the memorandum.