The Ministry of Land has asked its field-level officials to provide ample opportunities to land service recipients before final rejection of mutation, and mention specific reasons – if applicable – for the rejection.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the ministry again urged its officials to provide responsible citizen services, and ensure implementation of instructions documented within “Instructions on disposal of mutation applications in the e-mutation system,” issued last year.
The instructions included, for example, giving an opportunity to provide information without rejecting the application right away, if there is any deficiency of information that is not stored in the digital land service system or land office.
If there is a shortage of any document during a mutation case’s first order, the applicant must be requested to submit the missing documents within seven working days, or a reasonable time, by specifically mentioning it.
The land ministry had earlier directed that the second order could be rejected only in case of failure to submit the information within that time.
However, the recent regular review of the land ministry shows in many cases that the applicant was not requested to give seven working days, or reasonable time, to submit the missing information or documents.
Moreover, in most of the cases, the reasons for which the application has been rejected have not been specifically mentioned, or vaguely mentioned in the order.
In the review, it was found that often the mutation application was rejected due to lack of necessary information, lack of necessary documents, lack of succession certificate, and not giving a copy, photocopy, or stamp seal of Khatian.
Other reasons included– giving a vague scan copy, failure to provide land development tax receipt (Dakhila)/ updated Dakhila, non-submission of the original document, non-payment of land development tax, non-payment of DCR fee, and non-attachment of partition deed.
According to the ministry’s abovementioned circular, the applicant ought to be allowed to provide the information within a reasonable time.
Also, in some cases, the mutation has been rejected citing failure to produce deed-wise evidence in favour of ownership, rejection of subdivision application by annulling, and incorrect application according to the ULAO report.
Specific causes should have been shown in such cases, the release adds.
In light of such a situation, the ministry has sent a letter to the Collectorate (Office of the Deputy Commissioners) to send a report if the applicant has not been given 7 working days or a reasonable time to submit documents if there is a shortage of any documents.
Moreover, a report should also be sent if the order has not been given properly with a specific reason for the rejection as per the ministry circulation issued on January 16, 2023.
It was also requested in the letter to send the report to the land ministry if an officer is found in dereliction of duty by rejecting an application without a valid reason.
