RTI for Chhattisgarh Land Records — Bhuiya Khasra B-1, Khatauni and Mutation Status

RTI for Chhattisgarh Land Records — Bhuiya Khasra B-1, Khatauni and Mutation Status

Land records in Chhattisgarh are central to property rights, agricultural credit, government scheme eligibility, and inheritance disputes. The state government maintains digitised land records through the Bhuiya portal (bhuiyan.cg.nic.in), which shows Khasra B-1 (field register) and Khatauni (rights register) data. However, the portal provides only a view — for legally enforceable certified copies and for tracking mutation or correction applications, the Right to Information Act, 2005 is the most effective tool available to landowners.

What Are Chhattisgarh Land Records?

Chhattisgarh's revenue land records follow the traditional central Indian system:

• Khasra B-1: The field register recording each plot's survey number (khasra number), area in hectares, owner name (khatedar), land type (irrigated/un-irrigated/government/forest), and crop pattern.
• Khatauni: The consolidated rights record for a khatedaar, listing all khasra numbers and co-owners in a single account.
• Mutation (Namantrayan): The process by which a change in ownership or rights (by sale, inheritance, gift, court decree, or partition) is recorded in the Revenue Register. A mutation order is passed by the Tehsildar or Naib Tehsildar after due inquiry and publication.
• Bhuiya Portal: The digitised interface (bhuiyan.cg.nic.in) maintained by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for Chhattisgarh, enabling public viewing of Khasra and Khatauni data. While convenient, portal printouts are not certified copies.

Who Is a Public Authority Under RTI?

The Office of the Tehsildar, Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue), and Collector in Chhattisgarh are all public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. Revenue Patwaris function as part of the Revenue Department apparatus and their records are accessible through the Tehsildar's CPIO.

What Can RTI Obtain?

Through RTI, landowners and affected parties in Chhattisgarh can obtain:

• Certified copies of Khasra B-1: Legally valid certified extracts of the field register for any survey/khasra number, useful as evidence in courts, banks, and government offices.
• Khatauni extracts: Certified copies showing all plots in a khatedaar's account and the names and shares of co-owners.
• Mutation application status: Current status of a Namantrayan Pravishthi, including the date of last action, reason for delay, and the officer holding the file.
• Mutation orders: Certified copies of orders passed by the Naib Tehsildar / Tehsildar approving or refusing a mutation.
• Land correction records: Status of applications for rectification of wrong area, wrong owner name, or wrong land classification in Revenue Records.
• Encumbrance records: Details of any mortgage, attachment, or charge registered against a plot in the Revenue Records.

How to File an RTI Application

Step 1 — Identify the correct CPIO. File at the Office of the Tehsildar of the tehsil in which the land is located. The Tehsildar is the designated CPIO for Revenue Records at the tehsil level.

Step 2 — Prepare your application. Write in Hindi or English. Clearly state the Khasra number, village name, patwari halka number, tehsil, and district. For mutation applications, include the Namantrayan Pravishthi number if available.

Step 3 — Pay the fee. The RTI application fee is ₹10, payable by Indian Postal Order, demand draft in favour of the Tehsildar, or cash at the counter. BPL cardholders are exempt from paying the fee under Rule 4 of the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005.

Step 4 — Submit the application. Deliver in person at the Tehsildar's office, or send by registered post to the CPIO's address. Online submission through cgstate.gov.in is also available for some districts.

Step 5 — Track the response. The CPIO must respond within 30 days under Section 7(1). For information related to the life or liberty of any person, the response must be given within 48 hours under the proviso to Section 7(1).

Specific RTI Requests Landowners Often File

1. Mutation Status: "Please provide the current status of my Namantrayan Pravishthi No. ___ filed on date, the last action date, reasons for delay, and the officer responsible for disposal."
2. Rectification of Wrong Entries: "Please provide the basis of the current land classification for Khasra No. ___, and the status of the Correction Application filed on date."
3. Encroachment Records: "Please provide details of any government land notified adjacent to Khasra No. ___, and whether any encroachment proceedings have been initiated."
4. Survey Records: "Please provide certified copies of the Patwari Field Book (Roznamcha Waqiati) entries for Khasra No. ___ for the period year range."

Tribal and Forest Land Considerations

Chhattisgarh has a significant proportion of Scheduled Tribe population. For tribal land, additional protections apply:

• Land alienation by STs is regulated under the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA).
• Forest land is recorded as government/forest in the Khasra, but individual forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) may have been granted — RTI can be filed with the District Level Committee (DLC) for FRA to obtain patta details and the status of pending forest rights applications.

First Appeal

If the CPIO fails to respond within 30 days or provides an unsatisfactory reply, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) to the First Appellate Authority (Sub-Collector / Additional Collector of the sub-division or district), within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period.

Second Appeal

If the First Appellate Authority also fails to provide relief, file a Second Appeal to the Chhattisgarh Information Commission (ChIC) under Section 19(3). The ChIC, established under Section 15 of the RTI Act, is the final appellate authority for all state public authorities in Chhattisgarh. The Central Information Commission (CIC) has no jurisdiction over state revenue records.

The ChIC may, under Section 20, impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the CPIO for failing to comply with the RTI Act, and may also recommend disciplinary action.

Practical Tips

• Always ask for certified copies rather than just "information" — certified copies carry legal weight.
• Include your Patwari Halka number (a subdivision of the village revenue circle) to help the CPIO locate records quickly.
• For urgent mutation cases (e.g., death of landowner and immediate inheritance need), mention Section 7(1) proviso and request expedited processing — though the 48-hour provision applies to life and liberty, courts have held that landlessness threatening livelihood can be argued to qualify.
• Retain the postal receipt / acknowledgement slip of your RTI application — it is required for filing appeals.
• The Bhuiya portal view and the certified copy from the Tehsildar must match. If they differ, file an RTI specifically asking why the Bhuiya portal entry differs from the physical Revenue Register — this can uncover data entry errors or unauthorised changes.