Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 28 Mar: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday inaugurated the ‘Revenue Lok Adalat’ across Uttarakhand through video conferencing with the aim of giving fresh momentum to the ‘Nyay Aapke Dwar’ campaign. It may be noted here that this campaign is aimed at delivering justice at the doorstep of citizens.
Addressing the people on this occasion, Dhami stated that the government is fully committed towards ensuring simple, accessible and effective justice, with time-bound disposal of cases. He described the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening access to justice and said this scheme reflects the spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guiding mantra of inclusive development and governance reaching the last person swiftly and efficiently.
Dhami also observed that revenue disputes are not merely procedural matters but are closely linked to farmers’ land, family livelihoods and the dignity of individuals. He noted that to address long-pending cases, the Revenue Lok Adalat has been conceived as an innovative intervention under the guiding principles of simplification, resolution, disposal and satisfaction. He said, the State currently has over 400 revenue courts functioning at various levels, including the Revenue Council at the State level, Commissioner courts at the divisional level, Collector courts at the district level and courts of Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars at the tehsil level. Around 50,000 cases pending.
He said that Revenue Lok Adalats are being organised simultaneously at 210 locations across all 13 districts of the State, where approximately 6,933 cases are targeted for prompt disposal. Besides land disputes, cases related to excise, food, stamp duty, SARFAESI Act, Goonda Act, CrPC, Electricity Act, Senior Citizens Act and Rent Control Act will also be taken up for time-bound and transparent resolution.
Highlighting the role of technology in governance, the CM said that the ‘Revenue Court Case Management System’ portal has been developed to digitise court processes, enabling citizens to file cases from their homes. He reiterated that the state government is working continuously in line with the vision of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ to simplify administrative procedures.
Dhami directed the officials to ensure that mutation in uncontested inheritance cases is completed within the stipulated time after the death of a landowner. He suggested that the process be finalised by the thirteenth day rituals, with updated land records handed over to the family. He also instructed that cases related to land measurement and possession disputes be resolved within one month.
Emphasising transparency and impartiality as the core features of Lok Adalats, the CM further emphasised that all the parties concerned should be heard with sensitivity to ensure fair outcomes. Dhami claimed that the government is committed to delivering timely and fair justice to every citizen through continuous innovation and effective use of technology.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, who joined the meeting virtually, assured that revenue cases would be disposed of expeditiously in line with the CM’s directions. He said that the existing backlog would be cleared on a war footing, with priority accorded to land-related disputes.
The CS also directed all District Magistrates to ensure that pending revenue cases are resolved within the next one month on a priority basis. Revenue Secretary Ranjana Rajguru was also present during the meeting.
