Baramulla, April 9, : In a glaring example of how corruption has managed to penetrate even the digital reforms initiated by the Jammu and Kashmir government, a landowner from Hygam, Baramulla, has alleged that his online applications for land identification were deliberately rejected because he refused to pay a bribe to a local revenue official.
The government had launched the online land Fard system through the Revenue Department to promote transparency, eliminate the influence of traditional ‘Patwari Raj,’ and put an end to bribery in land records management. But according to 38-year-old Javed Ahmad Bhat, the system is now being manipulated by the very officials it was meant to bypass.
Bhat said, “I submitted two applications through the official revenue website and paid Rs 200 each time. Both were rejected without any valid reason. I was repeatedly told to contact the Patwari, and eventually someone told me clearly—nothing will move forward unless I pay a bribe.”
Bhat alleged that Patwari Javed Ahmad Teli, posted in the Balgam area of Pattan, has created a nexus of middlemen who approach unsuspecting applicants and demand money for processing even the most basic land documents. “The land in question is already mortgaged in J&K Bank. I only needed a Fard, but the harassment I faced was inhumane,” he said, adding that despite the official’s recent transfer, his influence remains unchecked.
Calling the entire process a “mafia stranglehold,” Bhat has appealed to the Baramulla district administration and the Anti-Corruption Bureau to intervene. “If the online system is not immune to bribery, where can a common man go for justice?” he asked.
In a significant revelation, a senior politician and former legislator, who requested anonymity, confirmed that multiple complaints have been received in the past against the same Patwari. “Once, he refused to assist a displaced Kashmiri Pandit despite the recommendation of the Tehsildar. I had to deposit Rs 2,000 into an agent’s account just to move things forward. He even ignored my calls,” the former MLA said.
The politician added that the situation had improved during Governor’s rule when administrative checks were tighter, but since the return of public government, “a web of bribery has resurfaced, weakening the impact of reforms.” He stated, “If an application is rejected only because a bribe wasn’t paid, it’s a direct insult to the government’s anti-corruption initiatives.”
Promising to present documentary evidence of corruption, the former legislator said he would soon write to the concerned investigative agencies. “This official has turned public service into a private enterprise. Without accountability, training, and sincerity among lower-level staff, digital reforms will remain hollow promises.”
In his concluding remarks, the ex-MLA urged the Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla to break this “Patwari mafia” and uphold the integrity of the digital governance system. “I am hopeful that the DC will act swiftly to restore people’s faith in the administration,” he said.
