The Jharkhand High Court has issued significant directions to address recurring errors in the state's online land records system after hearing a petition from a landholder who claimed that digital records incorrectly showed another person's name in place of his family's. While disposing of the case, the Court ordered a statewide verification mechanism to ensure that digital land records accurately reflect physical government registers.
Background of the Case
The petition was filed by Ram Prakash Bhagat alias Ram Prakash Oraon, a resident of Lohardaga district. He approached the High Court alleging that although the names recorded in physical land records and survey documents were correct, the online land records portal displayed the name of a different person.
According to the petitioner, the discrepancy appeared in the current survey records and digital Register-II maintained by the revenue authorities. He claimed that representations had already been submitted before the Circle Officer, Kuru, seeking correction of the entries, but no action had been taken.
The petitioner sought directions for correction of the land records and issuance of rent receipts in the correct name.
Justice Ananda Sen noted that the Court had repeatedly encountered similar cases where citizens approached the High Court complaining that online land records did not match the physical registers maintained by the government.
The Court observed,
“There are mistakes or discrepancies in the name of the person/Raiyat or the area of the land or the plot numbers and other discrepancies also, which is creating confusion.”
The Court further remarked that many such errors appeared to have arisen during data entry while digitising records. It also found that there was no clear material showing that digital entries were being verified or authenticated by revenue officials before being uploaded to the online portal.
Emphasising the importance of accuracy, the Court said that the online land records system should function as a mirror image of the physical registers maintained by the authorities.
To address the issue, the Court directed that all online land record entries across Jharkhand must henceforth be checked and verified by the concerned Circle Officers.
After matching digital entries with physical records, Circle Officers will be required to digitally sign the records. The Court stated that only authenticated entries bearing such digital signatures should be reflected on the online portal.
The Court also directed that existing digital records already available on the portal must be verified and authenticated. If discrepancies are discovered during verification, corrective action should be taken in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
Additionally, the Secretary, Department of Revenue, Registration and Land Reforms, Government of Jharkhand, was directed to ensure immediate compliance and issue necessary administrative instructions.
As far as the petitioner's grievance was concerned, the Court directed him to approach the Circle Officer, Kuru, within three weeks. The Circle Officer was instructed to examine the records and make necessary corrections if the physical records supported the petitioner's claim.
The Court ordered that the entire exercise be completed within 12 weeks from the receipt of the order. With these directions and observations, the writ petition was disposed of.
Case Details:
Case Title: Ram Prakash Bhagat @ Ram Prakash Oraon v. State of Jharkhand & Ors.
Case Number: W.P.(C) No. 3953 of 2026
Judge: Justice Ananda Sen
Decision Date: June 10, 2026
