Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 08 September 2025
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has referred to as upon the Administration to introduce speedy reforms within the process for sub-division of landholdings beneath the A&N Islands Land Revenue and Land Reforms Regulation, 1966, citing growing hardships confronted by residents.
While appreciating the latest citizen-friendly initiatives, together with digitalisation of providers and improved transparency in income administration, the MP expressed concern that the present course of for land sub-division has change into unnecessarily sophisticated, resulting in difficulties for strange landholders throughout the territory.
Highlighting the statutory significance of land sub-division beneath Sections 84 and 148 of the Regulation, Mr. Ray famous that almost all purposes come up from inheritance or switch of shares via buy. In the absence of well timed sub-division, heirs and purchasers proceed to stay co-tenants on report, which frequently leads to avoidable disputes and litigation.
He additional identified that the Revenue Department has not too long ago begun insisting on proposals ready strictly within the type of Field Measurement Books (FMB) by non-public surveyors. According to the MP, this observe has brought about frequent discrepancies, rejections, harassment, and even allegations of unfair practices.
To deal with these challenges, Mr. Ray steered the next measures:
- Applications primarily based on succession or buy ought to be processed promptly on the power of Record-of-Rights entries, supported by easy sketches or consent notes.
- Final measurement, demarcation and certification should be carried out by official Survey and Land Records workers to make sure accuracy and transparency.
- The observe of mandating non-public FMB-based proposals ought to be discontinued to keep away from citizen inconvenience and preserve public belief.
Emphasizing that sub-division is just not a technical hurdle however a vital device to minimise disputes, enhance land governance and strengthen digital land data, the MP urged the Chief Secretary of A&N Administration to intervene and problem clear instructions for streamlining the method. He careworn that the Revenue Department should carry out its statutory duties in a clear and citizen-friendly method.
