Utrala Tehsil Advocates Protest Online Land Record System, Judicial Work Stalled

बलरामपुर उत्तर प्रदेश | अनिरुद्ध प्रताप शुक्ल

Advocates Launch Indefinite Strike Over New Online System

In Balrampur district's Utrala Tehsil, the Advocates' Association has initiated a strong protest against the new online system for land record mutations (Dakhil-Kharij). In solidarity with their opposition to the system, advocates have commenced an indefinite, phased hunger strike within the tehsil premises. Approximately 40 advocates participated in the initial day of the protest, voicing their demands by fasting.

The collective action by the advocates has led to a complete halt of judicial proceedings in all courts within the tehsil. Numerous litigants who had travelled from afar were forced to return without any resolution due to the lack of hearings. Beyond judicial work, other administrative functions related to the tehsil have also been impacted by the protest against the online land record system.

Administrative Functions Crippled, Revenue Loss Feared

The registry office within the tehsil also saw its operations completely disrupted. Not a single property deed registration could be completed throughout the day, raising concerns about potential losses to government revenue. The halt in the sale of notary stamps caused significant inconvenience for ordinary citizens like Suhail Ahmed, Zubair Khan, and Shiv Shankar in obtaining essential government documents.

Grave Corruption Allegations Leveled Against Tehsil Administration

The Advocates' Association has leveled serious accusations of corruption against the tehsil administration. The association claims that Kanungos and Lekhpals are allegedly demanding illegal payments of up to ₹20,000 in cases related to land demarcation. Advocates assert that such practices are directly exploiting the common public, while responsible officials remain silent on these grave allegations.

These allegations have not been independently verified by The Cliff News. The president of the association, Prahlad Yadav, and general secretary, Ravi Shankar Mishra, announced that a large motorcycle rally will be organized on the upcoming Wednesday as a further demonstration. This rally is scheduled to commence from the tehsil premises, proceed through the main market, and conclude back at the tehsil.

Advocates Vow 'Fight to the Finish' for System Reversal

General Secretary Ravi Shankar Mishra described the ongoing movement as a 'fight to the finish,' stating that the protest will continue until the online system imposed by officials is withdrawn and the advocates' demands are met. The presence of senior advocates like Krishna Gopal Singh, Shiv Ratan Lal, Ram Pratap Chaudhary, Ram Sundar Yadav, Sushil Srivastava, Shatrughan Lal Mishra, Ram Teerath Jaiswal, Akhil Srivastava, Sumit Kumar, Navneet Srivastava, Hanuman Prasad, Rajveer Singh, Atul Yadav, Mukesh Kashyap, Manish Yadav, Shakti Mishra, Raghunath Verma, and Sabhajeet Tiwari at the hunger strike site underscored their commitment.

Other advocates, including Girish Pandey, RK Pandey, Vyas Muni Pandey, Amarnath Sharma, Tulsi Ram Yadav, Radheshyam Yadav, Nizamuddin Ansari, Shahbaz Fazal, Arif Khan, Rakesh Kumar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanjay Chaudhary, Aisha, Faizan Khan, Pravesh Gupta, Alok Kumar, Vijay Bahadur Jaiswal, Dinkar Srivastava, Manish Pandey, Rashmi Singh, Shweta Singh, Vineesh Gupta, Subhash Verma, Sandeep Gupta, Santram Verma, and Ramchandra Gupta, also lent their support. The advocates expressed their dissatisfaction, stating that they are receiving only assurances with no concrete action on the ground to resolve their demands, which will only strengthen their movement.

System Deemed Impractical, Fueling Corruption Fears

Advocates are characterizing the online mutation system as unfair and impractical. They argue that the new system is causing excessive delays in resolving land-related disputes. Specifically, for land demarcation cases requiring physical verification and on-site inspections, online procedures are deemed insufficient. Advocates contend that manual processes offered greater transparency and ease, whereas the online system suffers from technical flaws and complexities, creating further trouble for the general public.

The lack of transparency in the implementation of this system and fears of corruption have compelled advocates to take to the streets. According to them, revenue officials like Lekhpals and Kanungos are misusing the new system and demanding bribes to complete various processes. This situation is not only financially burdening the public but also undermining trust in the judicial system.

Demands for System Suspension and Impartial Inquiry

The advocates' primary demand is the complete suspension of the online land record mutation system and the reinstatement of the previous effective system. Additionally, they are calling for an impartial investigation into the corruption allegations. Through the ongoing phased hunger strike at the tehsil premises, the Advocates' Association has made its intentions clear to the administration. This movement is not merely a protest but a symbol of a broader struggle demanding reforms in judicial processes and the eradication of corruption.

The advocates are committed to continuing their agitation until their demands are taken seriously and resolved. The upcoming motorcycle rally on Wednesday could prove to be a significant step in garnering further public support and increasing administrative pressure. The local populace is also supporting the advocates' movement, as they too are facing difficulties arising from the online mutation process.

Citizens Face Delays, Urge for System Overhaul

Several citizens, including Suhail Ahmed, Zubair Khan, and Shiv Shankar, shared their plight, stating that they are enduring unnecessary delays and harassment in obtaining government documents. They believe that this online system is proving impractical in its initial phase and should be improved or the old system prioritized as soon as possible.