~'iI'lI<l The Mizoram Gazette i EXTRA ORDINARY Published by Authority Regn No. NE-313 (MZ) 2006-2008 Rs. 2/- per issue VOL - XXXVIII Aizawl, Monday, 1.6.2009, Jyaistha 11, S.E 1931, Issue No.265 NOTIFICATION No.F.23012/2/05-REV, the 25th May, 2009. In pursuance ofthe Aide Memoire ofthe Asian Development Bank's Appraisal Mission under the Mizoram Public Resources Management and development Programme (MPRMDP) the Governor ofMizoram is pleased to approve restructuring ofRevenue Department, Govern­ ment ofMizoram as per the "Scheme for restructuring ofRevenue Department" at Annexure- 'A'. Lalbiaktluanga Khiangte, Commissioner/Secretary to the Govt. ofMizoram. • Ex-265/2009 -2- GOVERNMENT OF MIZORAM REVENUE DEPARTMENT A PLAN FOR RESTRUCTURING AND RATIONALISING REVENUE ADMINISTRATION OF MIZORAM I. Present status of Land Revenue Administration. The primary purpose ofthe administrative struc­ ture developed by the Government was to deal with land and land revenue administration, including the assessment and collection of revenue, the maintenance of land records, survey for revenue purposes and records ofright, taxes on lands and buildings. An efficient land administration is indispensable for the peace and prosperity ofrural Mizoram and the protection ofthe rights ofownership ofthe people. The basic feature ofthe structure ofthe functionaries are as follows :- There is no administrative machinery at Village level, Circle level, Talug/Tehsil level and Sub­ Division levels. The district has been the most important unit of land and land revenue administration. The district level functionary forms the base ofthe land and land revenue administration. The head ofthe district administration is designated as Deputy Commissioner assisted by Assistant Settlement Officer I & II. The State has no Divisional level functionary. At the Directorate level there is a post ofDirector ofLand Revenue and Settlement assisted by Joint Director (Survey) and other Technical and non-technical officers. All works relating to survey, settlement, preparation and maintenance ofland records including Land Reforms is handled by Directorate. 2. A plan for re-structuring and rationalising land and land revenue administration. The main objectives and functions ofRevenue Administration are as follows :- 2.1 Survey and settlement of land and land revenue; 2.2 Maintenance ofcorrect and up-to-date land records including record-of-rights; 2.3 Assessment and collection of land revenue & taxes on land and buildings; 2.4 Implementation of land reforms laws and other land related laws; 2.5 The safeguarding ofpublic interest, public property and public assets including common property resources; 2.6 Making preparation and correction of land records as quasi-judicial function and providing for appeals; 2.7 Implementation ofmeasures for assistance to other Departments/Company/Society and weaker sec­ tions and other selected miscellaneous functions. To attain the objectives, the restructuring exercise focuses on decentralization ofthe revenue admin­ istrative system to bring it closer to the people. The district administration will be the backbone ofrevenue administration in the district. The Deputy Commissioner and the Sub-Divisional Officer will be the authority on land revenue and land reforms related laws. -3- Ex-265/2009 Decentralization alongwith additional manpower will bring efficiency particularly in the mainte­ nance ofland records and assessment and collection ofland revenue and other taxes. Keeping the objectives in view, it is proposed to restructure and rationalise the organisation as :- (a) Revenue village: The Revenue Assistant in charge ofone of more Revenue Villages will form the base of the land revenue administration. The Revenue Assistant of Sub-Inspector of Revenue is a full time government ser­ .. vant to carry out the work relating to assessment and collection ofLand revenue & Taxes as well as mainte­ nance and updating of land records of revenue villages and other responsibilities relating to land and land revenue administration. As per the Mizoram (Land Survey and Settlement Operation) (Amendment) Act, 2008 there are 105 Revenue villages. (b) Revenue circle: The first supervisory level about the Revenue Assistant will be the Revenue Circle. The functionary in charge is called Sub-Inspector of Revenue. The Sub-Inspector ofRevenue has to supervise all the works done by the Revenue Assistant. The Circle Sub-Inspector will normally operate from the Revenue circle headqauarters and their functions will mostly supervisory. The 35 nos. of Revenue circle are Zawlnuam, Kawrthah,Mamit, W. Phaileng, Reiek, Vairengte, Kolasib, Thingdawl, Kawnpui, Sakawrdai, Darlawn, Durtlang, Bawngkawn, Vaivakawn, Dawrpui, Tlangnuam, Aibawk, Thingsulthliah, Saitual, Phullen, Serchhip, E. Lungdar, N. Vanlaiphai, Thenzawl, Ngopa, Khawzawl, Champhai, Khawbung 'S', Serkawn, Chanmari, Theiriat, W. Bunghmun, Hnahthial, Tlabung & Lungsen. (c) Revenue Sub-divisions: ! The officer in charge of the Revenue Sub-division will be known as the Sub-divisional Officer (Revenue). The existing Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) will therefore look after the functions of land and land revenue administration. There are 18 nos. of Sub-Divisions. The Inspector of Revenue will assist the Sub-Divisional Officer (Rev) in all matters relating to land revenue administration. Things have changed now a great deal in recent years as Mizoram become a peaceful State and the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) are having a very less work in the matter oflaw and order. In order to keep the " .. land revenue administration a fairly high level ofefficiency it is require to attend promptly to the grievances ofthe public and to keep the field staffunder effective control. The day to day function ofthe Sub-divisional Officer (Revenue) will be implementation ofland revenue and land refonns. (i) Maintenance ofland records and all related documents and continous updating ofland re­ lated informations, including mutations; (ii) Assessment and collection ofland revenue and taxes; (iii) To function as Revenue Commissioner exercising quasi-judicial power for settlement of disputes. Ex-265/2009 -4- The duties and powers ofthe Sub-Divisional Officer shall be such as may be imposed or conferred on them by under any law relating to land and land revenue administration for the time being in force or by any general or special order ofthe Government. (d) District: The district has been the most important unit ofland revenue administration since a very long time. The head of the district administration is designated as the Deputy Commissioner. The assessment and collection ofland revenue/taxes is one ofthe most important duties ofthe district administration. It is pro­ posed that the Deputy Commissioner's functions will be largely supervisory in nature and will also be the appellate Revenue Court to hear and adjudicate on cases appeal cases from the court of the S.D.O. The Deputy Commissioner shall exercise such powers ofsuperintendence and control of land and land revenue administration within the district and over the officers subordinate to him as may, from time to time, be prescribed by the Government. (e) State level (Commissionerate) : At the State level, at present, the Land Revenue Department is headed by the Commissioner & Secretary. The Commissioner/Secretary will also be the ex-officio Commissioner of Revenue exercising quasi-judicial powers as the second Appellate Revenue Court and adjudicating over appeal cases from the Court ofthe Deputy Commissioner. (f) Directorate of Survey and Settlement: At present, the Director of Land Revenue & Settlement exercises powers of land revenue related laws, maintenance of land records and settling of disputes. Presently, authority has not been delegated to district level officers to dispose offrevenue related cases. As mentioned in the above paragraph decentraliza­ tion will lead to delegation of power and authority to the District and Sub-Divisional level officers. The functions of the District will mainly be exercising budgetary controls, supervision and monitoring and re­ view of revenue related activities in the State. The Director will also assist the Commissioner ofRevenue in the disposal ofcourt cases. The main function ofthe Director will now be survey and settlement operations which will involve the following activities :- (i) Preparation of map; (ii) Preparation ofrecord-of-right; (iii) Assessment ofland revenue; (iv) Conferment ofownership rights The organisational chart ofthe Revenue Department at the State level, District level and Sub-Divi­ sionallevel may be seen at Annexure-I (a), I(b) & I(c). -5- Ex-265/2009 ORGANISATION CHART OF REVENUE DEPARTMENT COM M ISSIONER/ SECRETARY IAnnexure- I (a) [ I ADM IN ISTRA TlVE WING EXEqlTIV EWING (Com rnissio nerate without (W ith Secretariat status) Secretariat status), I I Al2l2ell\lle Revenue • (i) Administration (EslI,) (i) Land Acquisition (ii) • ~(Legal (ii) Planning (iii) Training Legislative Question (iii) aspects) (Iv) Land Administration/ Court/ Complaints Management (iv) Public Relation/Right to (v) lnternatioual/ Inter-State Information Boundaries .=~_.-.~ ~ Annexure- I (b) ORGANISATION CHART OF DIRECTORATE OF SURVEY AND SETTLEM ENT PIRECTORATE I Lrnining & AJ!m injstration Survey 0l2mtiQn Draw ing/P hntogram merry / Remote Sensing/ GIS/LIS Annexure- I (c) ORGANISATION CHART OF COMMISSIONERATE OF REVENUE DEPTT. • COM MISSIONEBATE ... DISTRICT Inx & Land AcquisitiQn LUDI & Establishment llild Operatipn Land Records Management SIID·DIVISION I I I I I Tn & blind Acquisition Lngl & Emblishmelll Field OPlHptign Land Records M anagemen: Published and issued bytheController, Printing & Stationery, Mlzoram Printedat the Mlzoram Govt. Press, Alzawl, C·700.