Lahore: The Supreme Court has barred patwaris from maintaining land records in areas where the Punjab Land Revenue Act (LRA) is followed, a news source reported. A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, issued the directives.
The bench was hearing a suo motu case regarding the functioning of patwaris, kanungos and tehsildars. It ruled that property transfers through verbal deals within urban settings will not be legally recognised anymore.
Justice Nisar had earlier questioned patwaris’ role in preparing land transfer deeds following the establishment of Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA).
He asked the provincial governments to submit their reply regarding functioning of patwaris, kanungos and tehsildars in urban areas. He also observed that no serious efforts were being made for planned urbanization.
