The Tamil Nadu Information Commission (TNIC) has expressed serious concern over the disappearance of files from revenue records and has called for disciplinary action against the officials responsible.
Emphasising the need for strong safeguards, it directed the Commissioner of Revenue Administration and Disaster Management to instruct all Collectors to improve file management and devise a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to protect land-related records — especially pattas and documents issued before and after the Updating Registry (UDR) scheme.
The case stems from a Right to Information (RTI) petition filed by P. Anbuvel of Coimbatore, who sought access to a file on the cancellation of a joint patta and a copy of an order issued by the then Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) on October 14, 1996. Both the Public Information Officer (PIO) and the First Appellate Authority claimed that the file could not be found in the record room, prompting the petitioner to appeal to the TNIC.
‘Careless conduct’
After hearing both sides, State Information Commissioner R. Priyakumar rejected the public authorities’ explanation and said such a response only showcased their “nonchalant” and “careless” conduct. He directed the RDO, Coimbatore, to conduct another search for the file and, if it remained untraceable, to initiate an inquiry using the File Movement Register to identify who had taken the documents and how they went missing. He called for disciplinary action to be taken against those responsible for the lapse.
