Patwaris hold protest on 2nd consecutive day, abstain from all types of works

Revenue officials raising slogans during a sit-in protest at DC Office complex, Jammu. —Excelsior/Rakesh
Revenue officials raising slogans during a sit-in protest at DC Office complex, Jammu. —Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 2: Demanding release of arrested Patwaris, Girdwars and Patwaris today held a sit-in protest at DC Office Jammu.
The protest was organized under the aegis of All Jammu and Kashmir Patwar Association. All basic members of the Association from district Jammu including Girdwars and Patwaris participated in the protest, which was led by Vinay Sharma, district president of the Association.
The protesting Revenue officials raised slogans in support of their demands which include release of two Patwaris arrested in connection with missing of revenue record, providing Government accommodation for the Patwarkhanas and basic facilities for running the Patwar offices.
Speaking on the occasion, Vinay Sharma said in support of their demands, all the Patwaris and Girdwars throughout the Jammu district are on 3-day strike from yesterday. He said all their basic members today abstained from all types of official works and they will continue their strike and protest tomorrow also if their demands are not met.
Sharma informed that they had around 1-hour-long meeting with Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr Raghav Langer this morning during which they projected all their issues and demands. He said the Divisional Commissioner assured them to fulfill their genuine demands.
He said they have given a 24-hour ultimatum to the Government stating that if all the arrested revenue officers are not released within 24 hours, they will hand over all the land records to the respective Deputy Commissioners. Sharma said it has come to their notice that one of the arrested Patwais has been released but till their all demands are not fulfilled, they will continue to protest.
“The arrested Revenue Department officials have no involvement in missing records and they have been implicated on fabricated allegations. Since years, we have been demanding Government to give Patwarkhana to the Patwaris but the demand has not been considered, which forced them to maintain necessary revenue records in rented accommodations,” said Raman Sharma, ex-president of the Association.