RTI for Madhya Pradesh Land Records — Khasra, Khatauni and Namanantaran via Bhu-Abhilekh

Landowners across Madhya Pradesh — whether dealing with a stalled Namanantaran (mutation) application, a disputed Khasra entry, an unclear Khatauni record, or a concern about government or forest land encroachment — have a powerful, affordable remedy in the Right to Information Act, 2005. For ₹10 and a single written application, a citizen can obtain certified copies of their Khasra (plot record), Khatauni (Record of Rights), complete mutation history, and the status of any pending Namanantaran at the Tehsil Office. In a state where land disputes permeate rural and peri-urban life alike, and where the Bhu-Abhilekh portal displays records online but cannot substitute for certified, court-admissible copies, RTI gives landowners authenticated documents to protect their property rights, challenge delays, and hold Patwari and Tehsil officials accountable.

Madhya Pradesh Land Records Terminology

Understanding MP's revenue terminology is essential before drafting an RTI application. These are the key terms and their meanings:

Khasra (खसरा): The plot-level land record — a Khasra entry corresponds to one physical parcel of agricultural or other land identified by a unique Khasra number within a village (Gram). It records the plot's area, land use classification, the name(s) of the Bhu-Swami (landholder), the nature of possession (Swayam Kasht — self-cultivated, Batai — sharecropped, or Bandhan — mortgaged), and the crop sown each season during the Girdawari (biannual field inspection). The Khasra is maintained at the village level by the Patwari.

Khatauni (खतौनी): The Record of Rights (Adhikar Abhilekh) — a holder-level consolidated document that groups together all Khasra plots belonging to one Bhu-Swami (or co-sharers) under a single account number. The Khatauni records each plot's area, land classification, and the recorded nature of the holder's rights. It is the primary document proving land ownership and possession in Madhya Pradesh, and is required for registration, bank loans, government schemes, and court proceedings.

Namanantaran (नामांतरण): Mutation — the formal process of updating the Khatauni to reflect a change in the recorded Bhu-Swami's name, following a registered sale deed, inheritance, partition, gift deed, court decree, or will. Namanantaran is processed and ordered by the Tehsildar (or an authorised Naib Tehsildar) at the Tehsil Office. Until the Namanantaran is sanctioned and entered in the Khatauni, the buyer's name does not appear in the revenue record even if they hold a registered sale deed.

Patwari (पटवारी): The village-level revenue official responsible for maintaining Khasra and Khatauni records for a group of villages (Halka). The Patwari conducts the biannual Girdawari field inspection, records crop details and changes in possession, prepares the field verification report (Patwari Prativedana) in Namanantaran proceedings, and is the first point of contact for land record queries. The Patwari reports to the Tehsildar.

Tehsil (तहसील): The sub-district revenue unit headed by the Tehsildar. The Tehsil Office (also called Tahsildar Karyalay) processes Namanantaran applications, hears objections, issues mutation orders, and maintains certified copies of Khasra and Khatauni registers. For RTI purposes, the Tehsildar is the SPIO for all land record matters within the Tehsil.

Girdawari (गिरदावरी): The biannual field inspection conducted by the Patwari each season (Kharif after harvest, Rabi after harvest). During Girdawari, the Patwari visits each plot, inspects crops and possession, and records the findings in the Khasra. Girdawari records can reveal possession disputes, encroachments, or unauthorised land use that are not immediately visible from the Khatauni.

Bhu-Swami (भू-स्वामी): Landholder — the person recorded in the Khatauni as the owner / holder of rights over a plot. Under the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 2012, a Bhu-Swami has the right to possess, cultivate, mortgage, and transfer the land subject to the provisions of the Code.

Bhu-Abhilekh (भू-अभिलेख): Literally "land records" — also the name of MP's integrated land records portal at mpbhulekh.gov.in (also accessible via landrecords.mp.gov.in). The portal provides online access to Khasra, Khatauni, and Namanantaran status for all villages in Madhya Pradesh.

Commissioner Land Records & Settlement (CL&RS): The apex land records authority in Madhya Pradesh, headquartered in Gwalior. The CL&RS oversees land surveys, settlement operations, and the Bhu-Abhilekh digital system across the state. For policy-level or statewide land records queries, the SPIO at the CL&RS office, Gwalior, is the appropriate authority.

What RTI Can Reveal About MP Land Records

Filing an RTI with the Tehsil Office or higher revenue authority can obtain:

1. Certified Khasra copy: The authenticated plot record bearing the Tehsildar's or Patwari's seal — landowner name(s), area, land use classification, crop entries, nature of possession, and any encumbrance noted
2. Certified Khatauni: The Record of Rights for a specific Bhu-Swami account, listing all Khasra plots, their areas, and the nature of rights held — admissible in civil courts, revenue courts, banks, and registration offices
3. Namanantaran history: Every mutation over the past 10+ years — who transferred to whom, on what legal basis (sale deed / inheritance / partition / court order), and which Tehsildar sanctioned each mutation
4. Pending Namanantaran status: Whether your mutation application is registered, the current stage, the name of the officer holding the file, and the official reason for any delay
5. Namanantaran Aadesh (mutation order) copy: A certified copy of the final mutation order once sanctioned by the Tehsildar
6. Patwari Girdawari records: The biannual crop inspection entries for a plot over recent seasons — useful for establishing long-term possession in dispute cases
7. Patwari field verification report: The Patwari's inquiry report submitted in a pending Namanantaran proceeding
8. Encumbrance details: Whether a mortgage (Bandhan), charge, or lis pendens is recorded against a Khasra number in revenue records
9. Government or forest land classification: Whether a plot or part of it is classified as Sarkari (government), Jungle (forest), Wasteland (Banjara Bhumi), or Abadi land — and whether any encroachment is formally recorded
10. Objections received: Whether any third party filed an objection to a Namanantaran application, the nature of the objection, and the date of the hearing fixed

Where to File: Identifying the Right Authority

MP's revenue hierarchy for land records operates at four practical levels for RTI purposes:

Tehsil Office (Primary Authority)

The Tehsil Office headed by the Tehsildar is the correct starting point for virtually all land record RTI applications in Madhya Pradesh. The Tehsildar is the SPIO for the Tehsil. This office processes and orders Namanantaran (mutation), maintains the formal Khasra and Khatauni registers, hears mutation objections, and issues certified record copies. File here for: Khasra copies, Khatauni extracts, Namanantaran status and orders, Patwari field reports, encumbrance queries, and any dispute or discrepancy relating to a specific plot.

Sub-Divisional Office (SDO, Revenue)

The Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) is the next level. File here for: matters spanning multiple Tehsils within a Sub-Division, complaints about Tehsildar inaction, partition decrees involving SDO jurisdiction, or land disputes escalated above the Tehsil level. The SDO also serves as the First Appellate Authority (FAA) for Tehsil-level RTI responses in many Sub-Divisions.

District Collectorate / District Land Records Office

The Collector's office handles district-level land acquisition records, inter-Tehsil disputes, government land vesting orders, and other matters that cannot be resolved at the Tehsil or Sub-Division level. File with the SPIO at the District Collectorate for such matters.

Commissioner Land Records & Settlement (CL&RS), Gwalior

For policy-level queries, statewide land records system issues (Bhu-Abhilekh portal problems, digital record discrepancies at scale), settlement records for a district, or matters that cannot be resolved at the district level, file with the SPIO at the Commissioner Land Records & Settlement, M.P., Gwalior.

How to File: Step by Step

Step 1: Identify Your Khasra and Khatauni Details

Before drafting your RTI, look up the correct Khasra number(s), Khatauni account number, village name (Gram), Patwari Halka number, and Tehsil for your land. You can use the Bhu-Abhilekh portal at mpbhulekh.gov.in to find these identifiers. Having the exact Khasra and Gram details ensures the PIO can locate records quickly and avoids a response of "information not traceable."

Step 2: Draft Your Application

Use the sample application above as your starting point. State your land particulars clearly at the top. Frame each request as a numbered, specific, factual query — for example, "certified copy of Khasra entry for Khasra No. XXX, Gram Name, Tehsil Name" rather than "all documents about my land." Each specific, distinct request should be a separate numbered item. Specific requests produce faster and more complete responses.

Step 3: File Online or by Post

Online: File through the Madhya Pradesh RTI portal at rti.mp.gov.in. Select the Revenue Department and then the relevant office (Tehsil / Sub-Division / Collectorate / CL&RS) from the department hierarchy. Pay the ₹10 fee via net banking, debit card, or UPI on the portal. Download the acknowledgement and note your registration number.

By Post / In Person: Send a written application by registered post (Acknowledgement Due — AD) to the SPIO, Tehsildar, Tehsil Name, District Name, Madhya Pradesh — 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 fee — attach a copy of the BPL card. Retain the postal receipt or delivery acknowledgement; the 30-day response clock starts from the date of receipt by the PIO.

Step 4: Track and Follow Up

The SPIO must respond within 30 days of receipt of your application (Section 7(1), RTI Act, 2005). If the matter involves life or liberty, the response is due within 48 hours. If you filed online at rti.mp.gov.in, track your application status using your registration number. For postal applications, the postmarked date on your AD card confirms receipt.

Step 5: Appeals if Needed

If the SPIO fails to respond within 30 days, or if the reply is incomplete, evasive, or incorrect, proceed with the First Appeal and, if necessary, the Second Appeal before the Madhya Pradesh State Information Commission (MPSIC). See the guidance in the FAQs below.

Detailed Information Requests You Can Make

Khasra and Khatauni Records

1. Certified copy of the current Khasra entry for Khasra No. XXX, Gram Name, Tehsil Name, District Name — including Bhu-Swami name(s), area in Hectare/Bigha/Dismil, land use classification, Kharif and Rabi crop entries, nature of possession, and any encumbrance, Bandhan (mortgage), or dispute entry
2. Certified copy of the Khatauni (Adhikar Abhilekh — Record of Rights) for Bhu-Swami Account No. XXX, Gram Name, Tehsil Name — all columns including Khasra-wise area, rights, and holder name(s) with share, bearing the Tehsildar's or authorised officer's seal
3. Whether Khasra No. XXX or any portion of it is classified as government land (Sarkari), Jungle, Wasteland (Banjara Bhumi), or Abadi land — and if so, the basis of that classification and any formally recorded encroachment or unauthorised possession

Namanantaran (Mutation) Status and History

4. Status of Namanantaran case No. XXX (or any pending Namanantaran for Khasra No. XXX filed by Name) — current stage, responsible officer, reason for delay if any, and a certified copy of the Namanantaran Aadesh if the mutation has been ordered
5. Complete Namanantaran history for Khasra No. XXX for the last 10 years — each case number, date, transferor, transferee, legal basis, and sanctioning Tehsildar / Naib Tehsildar for each mutation
6. Copy of the Patwari Prativedana (field verification / inquiry report) submitted by the Patwari in respect of Namanantaran case No. XXX
7. Copy of any Suchna (hearing notice) issued to parties in Namanantaran case No. XXX and the date(s) of hearings scheduled or held

Girdawari (Crop Inspection) Records

8. Girdawari (crop inspection) records for Khasra No. XXX, Gram Name for the last four seasons — the name of the cultivator recorded during each inspection, the crop noted, and the nature of possession (Swayam Kasht / Batai / Bandhan) noted by the Patwari during each Girdawari

Encumbrance and Mortgage Records

9. Whether any Bandhan (mortgage), conditional sale, charge, or lis pendens is recorded against Khasra No. XXX or Khatauni Account No. XXX in the revenue records maintained at your office — and if so, the details of each entry including the nature of the encumbrance, the name of the creditor, the date of entry, and whether the Bandhan has been discharged

Government and Forest Land Records

10. Whether any land in Gram Name was classified as forest (Jungle) or government land and later transferred or de-classified — and if so, the Khasra numbers involved, the date and authority of the order, and the current official status of that land

Bhu-Abhilekh Portal vs RTI: When to Use Which

Madhya Pradesh's Bhu-Abhilekh portal at mpbhulekh.gov.in (also reachable via landrecords.mp.gov.in) and the MP Bhulekh mobile app provide free online access to Khasra and Khatauni records for all villages in the state, along with Namanantaran application status tracking. These tools are genuinely useful and should be consulted before filing an RTI:

• Bhu-Abhilekh lets you view Khasra and Khatauni entries for any village by selecting your district, Tehsil, Halka, and Gram
• It also provides online Namanantaran application tracking by application number
• It allows you to verify the correct Khasra number and Khatauni account number before framing your RTI

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

The right approach is to use Bhu-Abhilekh to identify your land's Khasra and Khatauni details and do initial research — and then use RTI to obtain certified, court-admissible copies and to hold revenue officials accountable for delays in Namanantaran and other record-keeping responsibilities.

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): If the Tehsildar (SPIO) does not respond within 30 days of receipt, or provides an incomplete or evasive reply, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) — typically the Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) for Tehsil-level matters — within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. No fee is required for a First Appeal. The FAA must decide within 30 days, extendable to 45 days with written reasons.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): If the FAA's response is absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Madhya Pradesh State Information Commission (MPSIC), Bhopal, within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the FAA's response deadline. No fee is required. The MPSIC is constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act as the state-level information commission for Madhya Pradesh; the Central Information Commission (CIC) has no jurisdiction over MP state government bodies, including all Tehsil Offices, District Collectorates, and the Commissioner Land Records & Settlement. The MPSIC can direct the SPIO to furnish information and impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the SPIO personally under Section 20 of the RTI Act for delay or refusal without reasonable cause.

Khasra copies, Khatauni extracts, Namanantaran orders, and Patwari field reports are standard revenue records routinely maintained and provided to landowners under the MP Land Revenue Code, 2012. They do not attract any Section 8 exemption under the RTI Act. A SPIO citing a Section 8 exemption for such records would face a First Appeal that is very likely to succeed.