Srinagar, Dec 30 (KNO): Peoples Conference Chairman and MLA Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, has expressed concern over the functioning of the Revenue Department in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting alleged disparities in issuing certificates such as RBA (Reserved Backward Area), EWS (Economically Weaker Section), and others.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Lone appealed to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, urging him to address the issue. “I request @OmarAbdullah to please check the RBA, EWS, etc. certificates issued in Jammu and Kashmir. Or routine revenue work. Applications received and certificates issued. Jammu will be far ahead—and why not? Deserving applications should be approved at the earliest,” Lone wrote.
He alleged that revenue officials in Kashmir were reluctant to issue certificates to deserving candidates, forcing applicants to endure unnecessary delays. “Why are the Revenue authorities in Kashmir so reluctant to issue certificates to the most deserving candidates? Why do they make them beg? Is it a mindset? What are the challenges that we as a society are facing?” he asked.
Lone further criticized the behavior of some revenue officials, accusing them of perpetuating victimhood while being responsible for creating hardships during office hours. “The same revenue officials who subscribe to victimhood in non-office hours are the ones who manufacture victims in office hours,” he said.
While acknowledging that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had inherited these systemic issues, Lone called for immediate intervention to address what he described as “psychological issues afflicting some of our revenue officers.”
“The tehsils have become fiefdoms. Somebody has to tell them that they are government servants, not warlords of fiefs,” Lone said, urging the Chief Minister to take corrective action—(KNO)