Punjab Revenue Commission

The Punjab Revenue Commission is a statutory advisory and administrative body constituted by the Government of Punjab to oversee, modernise, and regulate the state’s land revenue administration. It functions under the Department of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management and serves as a high-level authority to recommend reforms, ensure transparency, and improve efficiency in revenue-related matters.

Background and Establishment

Punjab’s revenue administration has historically been the backbone of its governance structure. Rooted in the Punjab Land Revenue Act of 1887 and later reforms, the system was designed to maintain land records, assess and collect land revenue, and resolve disputes relating to property ownership and boundaries.
However, with changing socio-economic conditions, rapid urbanisation, and technological advancement, traditional methods of land record management and revenue collection became outdated. To address these challenges, the Punjab Government established the Punjab Revenue Commission as a reform-oriented advisory body to examine existing procedures and recommend modern, citizen-friendly alternatives.
The Commission was tasked with reviewing, revising, and harmonising land-related laws and ensuring that Punjab’s revenue system aligns with contemporary administrative and technological needs.

Objectives of the Commission

The primary objective of the Punjab Revenue Commission is to strengthen the efficiency, accountability, and transparency of the land revenue administration. Its specific aims include:

• Reviewing and updating outdated land and revenue laws to remove ambiguities and overlaps.
• Simplifying land ownership and transfer processes to make them more accessible to the public.
• Modernising revenue courts and streamlining dispute resolution procedures.
• Ensuring accuracy and digitisation of land records for transparency and easy access.
• Advising on policy reforms to prevent land frauds, encroachments, and record manipulation.
• Improving service delivery to citizens through technology and decentralised governance.

Structure and Composition

The Punjab Revenue Commission is headed by a Chairperson, usually a senior administrative officer of the rank of Financial Commissioner (Revenue) or a retired High Court judge. It includes:

• Members drawn from the fields of law, administration, agriculture, land management, and information technology.
• Technical advisors for digital record systems and land survey technologies.
• Secretariat support from the Department of Revenue, which assists in data collection, analysis, and communication with district-level offices.

The Commission functions in close coordination with the Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Divisional Commissioners, and Deputy Commissioners, who act as Collectors at the district level.

Key Functions

The Punjab Revenue Commission’s core functions cover both advisory and supervisory domains within land and revenue governance.

1. Legal and Administrative Reforms:
   • Reviewing the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887, Punjab Land Records Manual, and related rules.
   • Proposing amendments for better clarity, simplification, and alignment with modern needs.
2. Land Record Modernisation:
   • Overseeing the digitalisation of Jamabandis (records of rights) and integration with the National Land Records Modernisation Programme (NLRMP).
   • Promoting real-time updating of land transactions through online registration and mutation.
3. Revenue Court Management:
   • Supervising the functioning of revenue courts across the state.
   • Introducing the Revenue Court Management System (RCMS) to monitor case pendency and enhance efficiency.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation:
   • Assessing field-level revenue operations, such as land assessment, collection, demarcation, and mutation.
   • Conducting performance audits of district and tehsil offices.
5. Citizen Service Delivery:
   • Improving accessibility through online land records, e-registration of deeds, and property verification services.
   • Ensuring timely issue of documents such as Fard (ownership certificate), mutation certificates, and no-dues reports.
6. Policy Recommendations:
   • Advising the government on new revenue sources, land use policy, and disaster-related compensation frameworks.
   • Recommending measures to resolve land disputes arising from partition, urbanisation, or agricultural tenancy.

Major Initiatives and Achievements

Since its constitution, the Punjab Revenue Commission has been instrumental in advancing several key reforms:

• Digitisation of Land Records: Complete digital conversion of revenue records under the e-Governance and Digital Punjab Mission, enabling online access to property records through the Jamabandi Portal.
• Implementation of the RCMS: Introduction of an online platform for tracking cases pending before revenue officers, ensuring faster disposal and transparency.
• Integration of Registration and Mutation: Linking land registration with real-time mutation to eliminate manual delays and duplication.
• Training and Capacity Building: Conducting workshops for Patwaris, Kanungos, and Tehsildars to familiarise them with digital tools and revenue laws.
• Citizen-Centric Reforms: Establishment of Sewa Kendras and e-Governance Centres to provide single-window access to land-related services.
• Simplification of Procedures: Standardisation of formats for demarcation, mutation, and ownership verification to reduce procedural complexity.

Relationship with Other Departments

The Punjab Revenue Commission coordinates with various departments and agencies to implement reforms effectively:

• Department of Rural Development and Panchayats: For resolving disputes over common lands and village boundaries.
• Department of Local Government: For urban land regulation and property taxation.
• Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA): For integrating urban land data into the central record system.
• Punjab State e-Governance Society (PSeGS): For developing and maintaining digital platforms.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite steady progress, the Commission faces certain structural and operational challenges:

• Legacy land disputes: Large volumes of old, unresolved cases burden revenue courts.
• Data discrepancies: Inconsistencies between survey maps and digital records occasionally cause ownership conflicts.
• Capacity gaps: Need for continuous training of field-level officers in digital processes.
• Coordination issues: Multiple departments often overlap in land-related responsibilities.
• Awareness among citizens: Many rural residents remain unaware of online systems and continue to rely on intermediaries.

Future Outlook

The Punjab Revenue Commission envisions transforming the revenue administration into a fully digital, transparent, and citizen-oriented service system. Upcoming priorities include:

• Complete integration of GIS-based land mapping with digital records.
• Expansion of real-time mutation and registration across all districts.
• Development of a statewide land information management system (LIMS).
• Introduction of automated grievance redressal for revenue court cases.
• Strengthening collaboration with banks and local bodies to streamline land-based transactions and property taxation.

Significance

The Punjab Revenue Commission is central to ensuring good governance in land administration, which directly impacts economic growth, agricultural development, and social equity. By promoting transparency, reducing corruption, and introducing digital transformation, the Commission plays a critical role in bridging the gap between traditional land systems and modern administrative needs.