‘From Petrol Pumps to Stone Crushers: How J&K’s Revenue Officials Built Empires Beyond Salaries’
Avinash Azad
Despite the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Guarantee Act mandating time-bound delivery of routine services, corrupt practices by revenue officials continue to cripple ordinary citizens. The cancer of bribery runs so deep that people are forced to grease palms even for basic rights guaranteed under law.
In one such case, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had, in 2022, caught red-handed a Naib Tehsildar, a Patwari, and their tout while shamelessly pocketing bribe money from a hapless complainant. Yet, instead of facing immediate dismissal, these officials continue to enjoy the shield of bureaucracy.
On June 29, 2022, the ACB Central trapped Ashok Sharma, Naib Tehsildar, Ravinder Bhagat, Patwari, and their middleman Raman Gupta, while they were allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹1.5 lakh. The case, registered under FIR 06/2022, had sparked public outrage, with people questioning why routine services should cost them bribes when the law guarantees free access.
Three years later, the Financial Commissioner Revenue (FCR) J&K, Shaleen Kabra, has finally initiated departmental proceedings. Vide Order No. 73-FC(Rev) of 2025 dated 28.07.2025, the FCR appointed the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, as the Inquiry Officer under Rule 33(4) of the J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1956, to probe the charges against Ravinder Bhagat, then Patwari Akhnoor Khas (presently attached in Record Room, DC Office Kathua).
The Inquiry Officer has been directed to submit a detailed report with specific recommendations within 30 days. Further, through Order No. 113-FC(Rev) of 2025 dated 09.09.2025, the Tehsildar Akhnoor has been appointed as Presenting Officer in the case.
However, this case is just the tip of the iceberg. It is widely known — though rarely acted upon — that many revenue officials, including patwaris, girdawars and naib tehsildars, have amassed fortunes disproportionate to their known sources of income. From owning real estate ventures, petrol pumps and stone crushers to investing heavily in the booming land business, these officials live lifestyles far beyond their official salaries. The 2022 trap merely confirmed what the public has long whispered — revenue offices in J&K function like a well-oiled extortion machinery.
Though the ACB has recently trapped several corrupt revenue officials, the menace persists. Blinded by the wealth amassed through illegal means, these officials brazenly stall files unless their palms are greased. While the initiation of inquiry is a long-awaited step, the larger question remains —why are tainted officials still enjoying postings instead of facing immediate suspension or termination? The public service guarantee loses its very meaning when citizens are blackmailed into bribing government employees for rights that should come without harassment. Unless the government shows the will to break this nexus and prosecute the corrupt with iron hands, inquiries risk becoming mere paperwork while the rot in the system deepens further.
