RTI for Chhattisgarh Land Records — Bhu-Abhilekh, B-1 Khasra and Mutation

Landowners, farmers, and tribal communities across Chhattisgarh face some of the most complex land record challenges in India. The state's unique landscape — nearly 44 per cent of its geographical area is classified as forest, it has one of the largest Scheduled Tribe populations in the country, and vast tracts of agricultural land are concentrated in the fertile plains of the Mahanadi and Sheonath basins — means that land records disputes, delayed mutations, encroachment concerns, and questions about forest rights pattas are everyday realities. For just ₹10, the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) gives every citizen the legal right to demand certified copies of their land records, mutation register entries, survey maps, government orders affecting their land, and the status of any pending mutation or Forest Rights Act claim. This guide explains the Chhattisgarh land records system, what documents RTI can obtain, how to file an application on the state's portal at rti.cg.gov.in, and how to appeal if the response is unsatisfactory.

The Chhattisgarh Land Tenure Context

Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh on 1 November 2000 and inherited MP's revenue administration framework, which it has since developed independently. The state's land tenure landscape has three broad layers that determine which records are relevant to a given dispute:

Agricultural Revenue Land: The Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code, 1959 (as amended and adapted by Chhattisgarh after bifurcation) governs all agricultural and non-forest revenue land. Land records are maintained in the B-1 (Khatauni / Record of Rights) register and updated through the mutation (Parivartan) process. The Patwari at village level, the Tehsildar at Tehsil level, and the District Collector at district level are the key authorities in this tier.

Forest Land and Tribal Rights: Chhattisgarh's forests are predominantly in the Surguja division in the north, the Bastar division in the south, and the Bilaspur and Raipur divisions in the centre. For millions of tribal and other traditional forest-dwelling families, the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) is the critical legislation: it confers individual Forest Rights (IFR) pattas on families who have been cultivating forest land for generations, and Community Forest Rights (CFR) on Gram Sabhas over community forest resources. FRA records — including Gram Sabha resolutions, Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC) proceedings, and District Level Committee (DLC) orders on IFR pattas — are separate from revenue land records but are intimately connected to land security for tribal communities.

Patta Land and Government Allotments: The Chhattisgarh government has allotted residential and agricultural pattas to landless families under various schemes. The status and mutation of such allotments can also be tracked through RTI.

Understanding which tier your land falls under determines the correct authority to approach for RTI.

Chhattisgarh Land Records: The Key Documents

Chhattisgarh's revenue land records system uses a set of standardised registers and forms. Here are the documents most frequently sought via RTI:

B-1 (Khatauni / Record of Rights): This is the primary land record document in Chhattisgarh — the equivalent of the Record of Rights (RoR) in other states. Each B-1 entry corresponds to one holding (Khasra number or a group of Khasra numbers belonging to one owner). It records the name of the Bhu-Swami (landholder), the area of each Khasra number in hectares (or in older records, acres and guntas), land classification (irrigated / unirrigated / homestead / forest / government), the nature of occupancy rights, and any encumbrances or notations (mortgages, court attachments, acquisition proceedings). The Patwari maintains the B-1 register at village level. The digitised version of B-1 records is publicly accessible on Chhattisgarh's Bhu-Abhilekh portal at bhuiyan.cg.nic.in.

P-II (Khasra Naqsha / Survey Map / Cadastral Map): The P-II is the village-level cadastral map showing the boundaries, shape, and area of each Khasra number. It identifies which plots are adjacent to one another (important for boundary disputes) and shows physical features such as roads, water bodies, and forest boundaries. Digitised P-II maps for many villages are available on the Bhu-Abhilekh portal, but a certified copy with official seal — required for court submissions and registration — must be obtained from the Patwari or Tehsildar's office, or via RTI.

B-III (Parivartan Panjika / Mutation Register): The B-III is the mutation register — the chronological record of every change of ownership or possession recorded for each Khasra number. Every mutation entry shows the date, the names of the transferor (previous recorded holder) and transferee (new recorded holder), the reason for mutation (registered sale deed, inheritance, court decree, partition, government order, gift, or other), the authority that sanctioned the mutation, and the date of sanction. The B-III is not publicly available on the Bhu-Abhilekh portal and is one of the most important documents obtainable only through an office visit or RTI.

Jamabandi: The Jamabandi is the annual consolidated statement of land rights — a comprehensive record that brings together ownership, cultivation details, and revenue dues for all holdings within a village for a given revenue year. It is prepared and certified at the Tehsil level and serves as an annual snapshot of the land records position. A certified Jamabandi copy is often required for court proceedings, bank loans, and government scheme applications.

Patwari Halka Register: The Patwari's field register records the biannual field inspection (Girdawari) — details of crop sown, nature of possession (self-cultivated, sharecropped, or mortgaged), and any encroachments or disputes noted during the inspection. This register is important for possession disputes and for establishing long-term cultivation history.

The Revenue Hierarchy: Who Maintains What

Patwari (Revenue Patwari / Gram Patwari): The village-level revenue official. The Patwari maintains the B-1 Khatauni and Patwari Halka records for a group of villages (Halka), conducts the biannual Girdawari field inspection, initiates mutation proceedings, and prepares the field inquiry report in mutation cases. The Patwari is the first point of contact for any land record query.

Revenue Inspector (RI): Supervises a group of Patwari Halkas. Reviews mutation proceedings forwarded by the Patwari before they reach the Tehsildar.

Naib-Tehsildar / Tehsildar: The Tehsil Office, headed by the Tehsildar (or Naib-Tehsildar for smaller Tehsils), is the key processing authority for mutations and the issuing authority for certified copies of B-1, B-III, and Jamabandi. For RTI purposes, the Tehsildar / Naib-Tehsildar is the SPIO for all land record matters within the Tehsil. Mutations are sanctioned by the Tehsildar after a hearing and field inquiry.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM): The SDM's office handles disputes and appeals above the Tehsil level, including first appeals against Tehsildar decisions and matters involving multiple Tehsils within a Sub-Division. For RTI, the SDM (or Additional Collector, Revenue) is typically the First Appellate Authority for Tehsildar-level RTI responses.

District Collector (Revenue Section): The District Collector's office handles district-level land matters, government land records, land acquisition notifications, ceiling-surplus records, and appeals from SDM-level decisions. For RTI relating to acquisition notifications, government orders, or district-level land records, the SPIO at the District Collectorate (Revenue Section) is the appropriate authority.

Commissioner, Revenue Division: Each Revenue Division (Raipur, Bilaspur, Surguja, Bastar, etc.) has a Divisional Commissioner who oversees Collectors and handles appeals at the divisional level. For policy-level or cross-district revenue matters, the Commissioner's office is relevant.

The Bhu-Abhilekh Portal and Its Limitations

Chhattisgarh's Bhu-Abhilekh digital land records portal, accessible at bhuiyan.cg.nic.in, has digitised the B-1 Khatauni records and P-II cadastral maps for nearly all revenue villages in the state. Citizens can view their land's record of rights, check Khasra entries, and access digital map images for free without visiting a government office.

However, the portal has important limitations that make RTI indispensable for serious land matters:

The right approach is: use Bhu-Abhilekh to identify your Khasra number, landholder name, and current record — and use RTI to obtain certified, court-admissible copies and to hold revenue officials accountable for delays in mutation and record-keeping.

Forest Rights Act 2006 and Land Records

For the large tribal and forest-dwelling communities of Chhattisgarh — particularly in the Bastar, Surguja, Koriya, Kanker, Rajnandgaon, and Bilaspur districts — the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) is as important as the Revenue Code for land security. The FRA recognises two main categories of rights:

Individual Forest Rights (IFR) Pattas: Rights of individual families or households who have been cultivating or occupying forest land prior to 13 December 2005. IFR pattas are processed through a three-tier system: the Gram Sabha (village assembly) verifies the claim, the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC) reviews it, and the District Level Committee (DLC) — headed by the District Collector — issues the final patta. The IFR patta document, once issued, becomes a title document for that parcel of forest land.

Community Forest Rights (CFR): Rights of Gram Sabhas over community forest resources — the right to protect, regenerate, conserve, and manage community forest land including for sustainable livelihood use. CFR titles are also processed through the Gram Sabha–SDLC–DLC pipeline and are recorded in the Gram Sabha's own register.

RTI relevance for FRA claims: If your IFR patta application has been pending, rejected, or partially granted, RTI can obtain: (1) the record of your claim application as registered with the Gram Sabha or Forest Rights Committee; (2) the Gram Sabha resolution on your claim; (3) the SDLC's proceedings and reasons for any modification or rejection; (4) the DLC's order and the basis for any rejection; (5) whether the Gram Sabha has passed a resolution under Section 6(1) of the FRA and whether it has been forwarded to the SDLC. Address FRA-related RTIs to the SPIO at the Sub-Divisional Magistrate's Office (for SDLC records) or the District Collector's Office (for DLC records).

It is also important to note that IFR pattas, once issued, do not automatically appear in the revenue B-1 register unless a separate mutation (Parivartan) has been processed to enter the patta holder's name in the revenue records. Citizens who have received FRA pattas but whose names are not yet reflected in the B-1 should file RTI to understand why the mutation from the Forest Department records to the Revenue records has not been processed.

What RTI Can Obtain for Chhattisgarh Land Records

A well-drafted RTI application to the Tehsildar, SDM, or District Collector can obtain the following for Chhattisgarh land records:

1. Certified B-1 (Khatauni) copy: The authenticated Record of Rights for a specific Khasra number, bearing the Tehsildar's seal — owner name, area, land classification, co-sharer shares, encumbrances, and occupancy rights noted. Admissible in court, for bank loans, and for government scheme applications.
2. Certified B-III (Mutation Register) entries: Every mutation in the history of a Khasra number — who transferred to whom, the date, the legal basis (sale deed, inheritance, partition, court decree), and which officer sanctioned the mutation. The B-III is especially important when the current B-1 entry is disputed or when a fraudulent mutation is suspected.
3. Certified P-II (Khasra Naqsha / Survey Map): The cadastral map showing the boundaries, shape, and adjacent Khasra numbers of a plot. Essential for boundary disputes, encroachment complaints, and land demarcation proceedings.
4. Jamabandi entries: The annual certified statement of land rights, useful for court submissions and establishing a long-term ownership history.
5. Government orders and acquisition notifications: Any notification issued for land acquisition, highway alignment, railway corridor, irrigation canal, forest settlement, mining allotment, or industrial area that affects a specific Khasra number.
6. Status of pending mutation applications: Whether your mutation application is registered, the current stage of processing (site inspection, objection period, Tehsildar hearing, or order pending), the name of the officer responsible, and the official reason for any delay beyond the prescribed timeline.
7. Complaint records and encroachment notices: Whether any encroachment complaint has been formally recorded against a Khasra number, the inquiry conducted, and the action taken or pending.
8. FRA patta status and proceedings: SDLC and DLC proceedings on IFR patta applications — the Gram Sabha resolution, the sub-divisional committee's review, and the District Level Committee's final order.
9. Patwari Girdawari (field inspection) records: Biannual crop inspection entries for a plot over recent seasons — useful for proving long-term possession or identifying when a record was last inspected.

Step-by-Step Guide to Filing an RTI

Step 1: Gather Your Land Identifiers

Before drafting your RTI, note the exact details of the land you are inquiring about:

• Khasra Number(s)
• Patwari Halka number or name
• Village name (Gram)
• Tehsil name
• District name

You can find these identifiers using the Bhu-Abhilekh portal at bhuiyan.cg.nic.in. Search by district, Tehsil, and village name to locate the relevant B-1 entry and note the Khasra number. Having the correct identifiers ensures the SPIO can locate records without the excuse of "information not traceable."

Step 2: Identify the Correct Authority

For most land record RTI applications — B-1 copies, B-III mutation entries, P-II maps, pending mutation status — the correct SPIO is the Tehsildar (or Naib-Tehsildar) of the Tehsil in which the land is situated. For acquisition notifications, government orders, or district-level records, file with the SPIO at the District Collector's Office (Revenue Section). For FRA patta matters, file with the SPIO at the Sub-Divisional Magistrate's Office (for SDLC records) or the District Collector's Office (for DLC records).

Step 3: Draft Your Application

Use the sample application in the frontmatter above as your starting point. State the land particulars clearly at the top — Khasra number, Patwari Halka, Village, Tehsil, and District. Frame each request as a numbered, specific, factual query. Do not ask for "all documents about my land" — instead, ask for "a certified copy of the B-1 Khatauni entry for Khasra No. XXX" and "a certified copy of the B-III Mutation Register entry showing the mutation sanctioned in approximate year." Specific requests produce complete responses.

Step 4: File Online via rti.cg.gov.in

Online portal: Chhattisgarh has its own state RTI filing portal at rti.cg.gov.in. This is the recommended method for most applicants. Note that Chhattisgarh does not use the Central Government's rtionline.gov.in portal — that portal is for Central Government public authorities only. On the Chhattisgarh portal:

1. Register or log in to rti.cg.gov.in
2. Select the Revenue & Disaster Management Department and then the relevant Tehsil or District Collectorate as the public authority
3. Fill in the application form, describing the information sought with the land particulars
4. Pay the ₹10 application fee online via net banking, debit card, or UPI
5. Download the acknowledgement and note your registration number for tracking

By post or in person: Send a written application by registered post (Acknowledgement Due — AD) to the SPIO, Office of the Tehsildar, Tehsil Name, District Name, Chhattisgarh — or deliver it in person at the Tehsil Office. Enclose an Indian Postal Order (IPO) of ₹10 drawn in favour of the Tehsildar (or as directed by the office). BPL cardholders are exempt from the application fee under the Act — attach a photocopy of the BPL ration card. Retain the postal receipt or delivery acknowledgement, as the 30-day response clock starts from the date of receipt of the application by the PIO.

Step 5: Track Your Application

Under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, the SPIO must provide the information or a decision within 30 days of receipt of the application. If the information sought concerns the life or liberty of any person under the Section 7(1) proviso, the response is due within 48 hours. Track your application using the registration number on rti.cg.gov.in. If you filed by post, the date on your AD card postal receipt confirms receipt.

Step 6: Respond to Any Transfer Notice

If the information you seek is held by a different office within the Revenue Department (for example, you addressed the application to the Tehsildar but the acquisition notification is held at the Collectorate), the SPIO may transfer your application under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act to the correct PIO within five days and notify you. The 30-day timeline then runs from the date the transferred PIO receives the application. Follow up if you receive no communication within 30 days of the transfer.

Detailed Information Requests You Can Make

B-1 (Khatauni / Record of Rights)

1. A certified copy of the current B-1 (Khatauni) entry for Khasra No. XXX, Patwari Halka XXX, Village XXX, Tehsil XXX, District XXX — including the name(s) of all recorded Bhu-Swamis (landholders) and their shares (if co-owned), total area in hectares, land classification (Krishi / Abadi / Jungle / Sarkari / other), nature of occupancy rights, and any encumbrance, mortgage, court attachment, or litigation entry noted in the register.
2. Whether Khasra No. XXX, Village XXX, Tehsil XXX or any portion of it is classified as government land (Sarkari), forest (Jungle), common land (Gaocharan / Gauchar), or waste land — and if so, the recorded basis for that classification and details of any encroachment or unauthorised occupation formally noted in the Patwari's records or Tehsil register.

B-III (Mutation Register)

3. A certified copy of the B-III (Parivartan Panjika / Mutation Register) entry for Khasra No. XXX, Village XXX, Tehsil XXX for the mutation registered in approximately year/period — showing the date of registration, names of transferor and transferee, legal basis of mutation (sale deed / inheritance / partition / court decree / government order), and the name and designation of the officer who sanctioned the mutation.
4. A certified copy of the complete B-III mutation history for Khasra No. XXX, Village XXX, Tehsil XXX for the last 10 years — including each mutation case number, date, transferor/transferee names, legal basis, and sanctioning authority.

P-II (Survey Map / Khasra Naqsha)

5. A certified copy of the P-II (Khasra Naqsha / Survey Map) for Khasra No. XXX, Village XXX, Tehsil XXX — showing the boundaries of the plot, its area as recorded in the survey, and the Khasra numbers of all adjacent plots.

Pending Mutation Status

6. The current status of mutation application bearing Application No. XXX (or the pending mutation for Khasra No. XXX submitted by Name on approximately Date) — including: (a) whether the application has been registered with a case number and the date of registration; (b) the current processing stage (site inspection / objection period / hearing / Revenue Inspector's report / Tehsildar's order pending); (c) the name and designation of the officer currently responsible for the application; (d) the prescribed time limit for mutation under the relevant Chhattisgarh Revenue Rules; and (e) the specific reason for any delay.
7. A certified copy of the Patwari's field inquiry report (Sthaniya Anusandhan Prativedana) submitted in relation to the mutation application for Khasra No. XXX.

Government Orders and Acquisition Records

8. A certified copy of any government order, notification, or acquisition notice affecting Khasra No. XXX, Village XXX, Tehsil XXX during the last 10 years — including any forest settlement order, land acquisition award under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, highway alignment notification, or mining area notification.

Jamabandi

9. A certified copy of the Jamabandi (annual statement of land rights) for Village XXX, Patwari Halka XXX, Tehsil XXX for the revenue year XXXX-XX pertaining to Khasra No. XXX — bearing the Tehsildar's signature and official seal.

FRA Patta Status (for Forest Land Claims)

10. The status of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 individual Forest Rights (IFR) patta claim submitted by Name for forest land in Village XXX, Tehsil XXX — including (a) whether the claim was registered and the Gram Sabha resolution passed; (b) the date on which the claim was forwarded to the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC); (c) the SDLC's proceedings and decision; (d) whether the claim was forwarded to the District Level Committee (DLC); and (e) the DLC's order and the basis for any rejection or partial grant.

Practical Tips for Chhattisgarh Land Record RTI

Always cite the complete land address: In your application, state the Khasra number, Patwari Halka number (or name), Village name, Tehsil, and District. Omitting any of these makes it easy for the SPIO to respond that the record cannot be located.

Use Bhu-Abhilekh to verify details first: Before filing, check bhuiyan.cg.nic.in to confirm the current B-1 entry, verify the Khasra number, and note the exact spelling of the village name and Tehsil name as used in the revenue records. Discrepancies in village or name spelling between your application and the register can slow down responses.

Certified copy vs. portal printout: A B-1 printout from the Bhu-Abhilekh portal shows the data but is not a certified copy. For court proceedings, bank loan applications, mutation proceedings, and inheritance disputes, you need a certified copy bearing the Tehsildar's or Patwari's signature and official seal. This must be obtained from the Tehsil Office — either by request at the office (with payment of copying charges) or via RTI.

B-III is not on the portal: The mutation register (B-III) is not published on the Bhu-Abhilekh portal. If you need to verify who has mutation rights over a plot, track a fraudulent transfer, or obtain a court-admissible copy of a mutation order, RTI to the Tehsildar is the only practical route without a personal office visit.

For FRA patta disputes: The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) is the SDLC chairman and the SPIO for SDLC records. The District Collector is the DLC chairman and the SPIO for DLC-level FRA patta records. For Gram Sabha records (Gram Sabha resolutions on FRA claims), file RTI with the Gram Panchayat Secretary or the Gram Sabha, which is itself a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act.

Land acquisition RTIs go to the Collector: Notifications under the Right to Fair Compensation Act, 2013 (or the older Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for older cases) are issued and maintained by the District Collector's office. For information about acquisition compensation, land acquisition awards, rehabilitation plans, or resettlement of displaced families, file RTI with the SPIO at the District Collector's Office (Revenue / Land Acquisition section).

Mention Section 2(h) if faced with a jurisdiction challenge: If a PIO claims that the Gram Sabha or a local body is not a "public authority" and declines to process your RTI, note that Section 2(h)(d) of the RTI Act specifically includes bodies "substantially financed, directly or indirectly, by funds provided by the appropriate government" — and village-level Gram Sabhas and Gram Panchayats receive government funding and are public authorities.

RTI Act Sections at a Glance

Understanding the key sections of the RTI Act will make your application and appeals more effective:

Section 2(h): Defines "public authority" — includes any authority or body established by or under the Constitution, law, or government notification. This covers all Revenue Department offices, Tehsil offices, District Collectorates, and Gram Panchayats in Chhattisgarh.

Section 6: Procedure for requesting information. Requires a written request to the SPIO, with the prescribed fee. No reason for seeking information needs to be given.

Section 7(1): Time limit for response — the SPIO must provide the information or a decision within 30 days of receipt of the application.

Section 7(1) Proviso: If the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, the response must be provided within 48 hours.

Section 19(1): First Appeal. If the SPIO does not respond within 30 days, or provides an unsatisfactory response, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

Section 19(3): Second Appeal to the Chhattisgarh State Information Commission (CSIC) — not the Central Information Commission (CIC). The CSIC is the state-level appellate body for all Chhattisgarh state government public authorities, constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act. File the Second Appeal within 90 days of the First Appellate Authority's decision.

Section 20: Penalty provisions. The State Information Commissioner can impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (maximum ₹25,000) on the SPIO personally for failure to provide information without reasonable cause.

Appeals

First Appeal — Section 19(1)

If the Tehsildar (SPIO) does not respond within 30 days, or provides an incomplete, evasive, or incorrect reply, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA). For Tehsil-level RTI matters in the Revenue Department, the FAA is typically the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or Additional Collector (Revenue) for the relevant Sub-Division. The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. No fee is required for the First Appeal. State the date and registration number of your original application, specify the information not provided or inadequately provided, and state the relief you seek. The FAA must decide within 30 days (extendable to 45 days with recorded written reasons).

Second Appeal — Section 19(3)

If the First Appellate Authority's response is absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Chhattisgarh State Information Commission (CSIC), constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act. The CSIC is the correct appellate body for all Chhattisgarh state government public authorities — including the Revenue & Disaster Management Department, all Tehsil offices, District Collectorates, and the Revenue Division Commissionerates. The Central Information Commission (CIC) has no jurisdiction over Chhattisgarh state government bodies. File the Second Appeal within 90 days of the First Appeal order or expiry of the FAA's response deadline. The CSIC can direct the SPIO to furnish the information and impose the Section 20 penalty on the SPIO personally for delay or unjustified refusal.

Certified copies of B-1, B-III, and Jamabandi, and the status of pending mutation applications, are standard revenue records routinely maintained and furnished to landowners under the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code. They attract no exemption under Section 8 of the RTI Act. If a PIO cites a Section 8 exemption for such records, a First Appeal is very likely to succeed.