Daily Times

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Muhammad Farrukh Irfan Khan ordered a senior member of the Board of Revenue to take action against all officers posted as collectors (consolidation officers) in Gujranwala during the last 20 years for not taking action against patwari Amjad Farooq, who left the charge without handing over record of mutations.

The judge issued this direction while hearing a case pertaining to mismanagement of records. On Friday, the deputy secretary (consolidation) submitted a report about the missing record of mutations. The report stated that patwari Amjad Farooq did not handover missing mutations at the time of his transfer, 20 years ago, and a criminal complaint was lodged against him on June 17, 2016.

The judge rejected the report by observing that the perusal of the report revealed that it was a replica of an earlier report filed on behalf of the respondents, who have not yet been able to retrieve the missing mutations from the district record room.

The judge observed, “The entire hierarchy of the Consolidation Department is responsible for not taking action against the delinquent patwari on timely basis. Board of Revenue senior member is, therefore, directed to initiate proceedings against all the officers who remained posted as collectors in Gujranwala during the last 20 years on account of not taking timely action.”

The judge also observed that it was a matter of extreme importance where rights of property owners were involved but unfortunately, no serious efforts were being made by the respondent-department despite indulgence of this court for the last couple of years. The judge also directed the senior member to convene a high level meeting to undertake the exercise and submit a detailed report in the court as well as to the chief executive of the province.

The additional advocate general sought last opportunity to ensure completion of the record of district Baddu Malhi.

The judge accepted the request reluctantly and observed that if the orders of the court were not complied until September 28, the respondents would face contempt of court proceedings.