Banglarbhumi: West Bengal Government Launches Online Appeal Module on Banglarbhumi Portal for Land Mutation and Record Corrections

Banglarbhumi Appeal Module: In a significant move to ease the burden on citizens, the West Bengal government has revamped its popular land records portal, ‘Banglarbhumi’. The Land and Land Reforms Department has introduced a modern ‘Appeal Module’, ensuring that landowners and farmers no longer need to physically visit government offices to resolve disputes related to land records.

According to administrative sources, this new feature allows citizens to file appeals online for issues concerning mutation, patta, and barga rights simply by clicking a specific link on the portal.

The End of Physical Harassment

Mutation is a critical process after purchasing land, as it updates the ownership in government records. Without mutation, the legal title remains incomplete. However, rectifying errors or challenging decisions often meant repeated visits to the Block Development Office (BDO), Block Land and Land Reforms Office (BLRO), or the District Magistrate’s (DM) office.

• This traditional process was time-consuming and physically exhausting for common people.
• Administrative data reveals that approximately 20,000 to 25,000 appeals are filed annually across the state regarding land disputes.

The state secretariat, Nabanna, believes that this digital shift will drastically reduce the “red tape” culture and ensure faster disposal of these pending cases.

Key Features of the ‘Appeal Module’

The upgrade is not just cosmetic; it brings substantive changes to how land disputes are handled. Apart from mutation, the module covers a wide range of grievances:

1. Mutation Appeals: If a mutation application is rejected or delayed, an appeal can be filed against the decision online.
2. Patta and Barga Disputes: Issues related to land rights distributed by the government (Patta) and sharecropper (Barga) rights.
3. Sharecropper Record Issues: Complaints regarding the exclusion of a Bargadar’s name or incorrect entries in the record.
4. Crop Share Disputes: Conflicts between the landowner and the Bargadar regarding the division of crops.
5. Land Misuse: Complaints regarding the illegal or improper use of land.

Enhanced Transparency and Tracking

Traditionally, the mutation process involved hearings where buyers, sellers, and record owners were summoned. Decisions made by the Revenue Officer or BLRO could be challenged at the District Land and Land Reforms Officer (DLRO) level. This entire appeal chain is now digitized.

The benefits of this transition include:

• Real-time Tracking: Applicants can track the status of their appeal online, eliminating uncertainty.
• Time-Bound Resolution: The system is designed to ensure cases are disposed of within a specific timeframe.
• Reduced Corruption: Minimizing physical interaction is expected to bring more transparency to the land revenue department.

This initiative marks a pivotal step in the West Bengal government’s efforts to deliver public services directly to the citizens’ doorsteps, making land administration more accessible and efficient.