Election code hits resolution of pending Dharani grievances  

Enforcement of Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha elections 2024 delays resolution of Dharani land applications, upsetting the Darani Committee members.

Enforcement of Model Code of Conduct in view of the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha has reportedly hit the ongoing process to resolve pending applications pertaining to Dharani.

The special drive launched for receipt of grievances from landowners was stopped on March 16, the day when the schedule for the elections was announced. In a memo issued on the same day, Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) Navin Mittal directed the district collectors to continue the regular Dharani related works as usual and as per the prescribed timelines.

The process however is said to have come to a grinding halt as the CCLA has not addressed a formal communication to the State Election authorities seeking permission to continue the ongoing drive to resolve the pending issues. Election code will not be an obstacle as the special drive for receiving and clearing applications from land owners is an ongoing process. But, officials at different levels are said to be giving their own interpretations to the election code related provisions to postpone the work.

Members of the committee headed by senior Congress leader M. Kodanda Reddy for recommending measures to rectify lapses relating to Dharani portal are upset over the manner in which the process has been put on hold. They cite the circular issued on February 28 decentralising powers and assigning responsibilities to officials at various levels from Tahsildars to the CCLA to clear the pending applications.

The circular mentions 16 modules like issue of passbook on court order, grievances relating to prohibited properties, K&L forms and grievances relating to acquired lands, among others, assigning specific responsibilities to officials at different levels. This was in contrast to the process in the previous Government when the District Collector was the only authority to make changes in the land related documents.

“The circular is still applicable for disposal of pending applications. Officials concerned can continue the process, but they have put it on hold citing reasons convenient to them,” a committee member said.

The committee received over one lakh representations during the special drive between March 1 and 9. The special drive was subsequently extended till March 17, but was stopped after the announcement of election schedule on March 16. “They should have completed uploading the data by now. But the process has been postponed citing election code,” he said.