Pune District Land Records Under Scrutiny as Officials Ordered to Review Satbara Utara Entries

Pune, 2 July 2025: In a move aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in land records management, Nashik Divisional Commissioner Dr. Praveen D Gedam has directed Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi to conduct a detailed review of all entries made in the Satbara Utara (7/12 extract) over the past five years, as well as the orders issued by Tehsildars and Sub-Divisional Officers related to those entries.

The review will cover cases involving manual errors, land tax arrears, and land-related appeals, with a special focus on corrections made under Sections 155, 182, 220, and 257 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code. District Collector Dudi has already appointed taluka-wise officers to carry out the scrutiny.

“These officers will examine all relevant orders passed between May 10, 2020, and the present date, and will submit a report to the District Collector. The verification will help identify any procedural lapses or misuse of authority,” an official from the district administration said.

The Talathis across Pune district have been instructed to prepare village-wise lists of entries and corrections made during the specified period. These lists will be cross-verified by the respective Tehsildars to ensure completeness and accuracy.

In addition, the concerned Provincial Officers have been instructed to personally inspect Talathi offices in each taluka. The Deputy Collectors from the Collector’s Office will also review the orders issued by both Tehsildars and Provincial Officers.

“We have appointed nine Deputy Collectors to inspect a total of 13 talukas and nine sub-divisional offices. An independent officer will also be designated to examine the orders maintained within the District Collector’s Office,” the order from Collector Dudi stated.

Errors in Computerized Records Prompt Action
The review was prompted by a series of complaints regarding errors in computerized Satbara extracts, which were digitized by the Land Records Department. These errors include incorrect names (Kana, Velanti, Ukar), wrong area measurements (Kshetra), and misentries in ownership details.
While the government had empowered Tehsildars and Sub Divisional Officers to correct manual-to-digital conversion errors under Section 155, reports suggest that some officials may have overstepped their authority by making alterations not limited to typographical mistakes — including reduction or removal of important land notes (notings).

“Only manual errors were supposed to be rectified, but we found instances where orders were issued to delete or alter official notings. This is a serious concern and will be thoroughly investigated,” said a senior district official.

The comprehensive review is expected to bring clarity to land ownership records, safeguard landholders’ rights, and prevent any unauthorized alterations in official documents.