Stop harassment at land offices

Harassment of ordinary citizens at land offices has become an everyday ordeal. Whether it involves collecting land records, registering ownership, applying for mutation, correcting holding numbers, or paying land development tax, people encounter numerous hurdles. What should be straightforward processes are marred by delays, uncertainty, and, too often, disrespectful treatment.

At many grassroots-level land offices, negligence, unnecessary bureaucratic delays, and complex paperwork are causing immense suffering. Even more concerning is the unchecked influence of middlemen or brokers. These broker syndicates, often operating with the cooperation of corrupt insiders, exploit the public-particularly targeting the poor, uneducated, and marginalized-extracting large sums of money. Shockingly, even rightful landowners are often forced to turn to brokers just to access basic services, which can lead to financial losses and legal problems due to forged or inaccurate documents.

If immediate and effective action is not taken, this systemic problem will only worsen, deepening public frustration and eroding trust in government institutions. We, therefore, urge the Land Department and authorities concerned to reform land services by making them citizen-friendly, corruption-free, and digitally streamlined, ensuring an ethical and accessible system for all.

Progga Das

Student, Department of Economics

Eden Mohila College

proggadas2005@gmail.com