Govt Orders Penalty Against Revenue Officials for Illegal Mutation in Jammu

Jammu, Sept 24:The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has imposed major penalties on two revenue officials—Sh. Mushtaq Ahmad, then Naib Tehsildar Mishriwala, and Sh. Ghulam Rasool, then Girdawar Paloura—after finding them guilty of illegally attesting mutation of government land in favour of private individuals.The action follows a complaint filed by the Vice Chairman, Jammu Development Authority (JDA), regarding illegal mutation of 8 kanal government land under Khasra No. 985-Min at Paloura, Tehsil Jammu North. The land, recorded in JDA’s name, was mutated in April 2022 in favour of the legal heirs of one Kamal Singh, S/o Bhagat Singh, in clear violation of revenue laws.An inquiry conducted under the directions of the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, established that the land was wrongly mutated despite existing JDA entries. Both officials were placed under suspension in December 2022, and subsequent departmental proceedings found their replies unsatisfactory.During the inquiry, Mushtaq Ahmad admitted to attesting the mutation under “stress and workload” but denied mala fide intent. Ghulam Rasool admitted making the entry based on a civil court decree but failed to justify procedural violations. The inquiry concluded that both officers misinterpreted court orders, treated an injunction decree as a title document, and even attempted post-facto erasure of official records.After considering the findings, the Financial Commissioner (Revenue), J&K, ordered reduction in rank for both officials. Additionally, Mushtaq Ahmad has been barred from any sensitive postings by the Divisional Commissioner and will be posted only outside Jammu district, while Ghulam Rasool will not be given any field posting.Mushtaq Ahmad will continue under suspension due to another pending misconduct case related to attestation of mutation at village Gole, Tehsil Jammu West. His case will be reviewed by February 2025. Meanwhile, Ghulam Rasool’s suspension has been revoked, and his services have been placed at the disposal of the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu.The order was issued vide No. 123-FC(Rev) of 2025 dated September 24, 2025, by the Financial Commissioner (Revenue), J&K.