Punjab patwari strike: Revenue officials modify stance, agree to attend work in own revenue circles

Chandigarh, August 31: In response to the Punjab 'patwaris' initially threatening a pen-down strike, they have now tempered their approach, indicating that they will carry out their duties within their respective revenue circles while abstaining from undertaking any "additional" responsibilities. 

The representatives of the state's revenue officers, consisting of patwaris and kanungos, clarified that this adjustment in stance doesn't signify a complete retreat and that work across several hundred revenue circles will still experience disruptions starting Friday.

Additionally, they have announced their intention to challenge the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the state government's decision to enforce the East Punjab Essential Services (Maintenance) Act (EPESMA). This move comes in the wake of a corruption case being filed against a patwari and a kanungo in Sangrur district a week earlier, prompting the Revenue Patwar Union to call for the strike.

With Punjab having 4,716 revenue circles and only 1,523 patwaris, the Union emphasized that they will manage their designated circles' tasks while avoiding engagement with the 3,193 supplementary circles.

Harvir Singh Dhindsa, President of the Revenue Patwar Union, stated, "Revenue officials will refrain from performing duties in the 3,193 circles starting Friday." He clarified that they would continue to engage in flood-related work.

Dhindsa underscored that they would approach the high court if any officer attempts to impose additional tasks on them, citing the violation of their "human rights."

In response, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had instructed the chief secretary to activate the Act's provisions, allowing for potential legal action against employees participating in a strike while the state grapples with flooding.

Dhindsa highlighted the invocation of EPESMA as an attempt to coerce them and called for the state to employ officers specifically for the 3,193 revenue circles. Patwaris and kanungos primarily manage land ownership records.

Members of the Union regarded the case against the patwari and kanungo as "baseless" and demanded its withdrawal, alleging that the necessary approvals were not secured from the deputy commissioner and financial commissioner prior to registering the case.

The revenue officials are also protesting against the government's extension of the training period for 1,090 patwaris from one year to one and a half years, along with the contract payment of Rs 167 per day (equivalent to Rs 5,000 a month).

A meeting between protesting revenue officials and a principal secretary-level officer, initially scheduled for Thursday, was canceled. Dhindsa emphasized their preparedness to face any governmental actions but insisted that the protection of human rights remains paramount.

They plan to contest the ESMA notification in the high court, denouncing the state government's move as a transgression against human rights and constitutional principles.

Dhindsa criticized the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, suggesting that if the party disregards the Constitution and suppresses employees' voices, it should remove images of Dr. BR Ambedkar from government premises.

Dhindsa challenged Chief Minister Mann's claim that patwaris and kanungos receive a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh, daring him to substantiate the assertion with evidence and questioning the appropriateness of such "unfounded" statements. He highlighted that in 2021, AAP opposed hiring retired employees, yet after taking power, it also enlisted retired revenue officials.

Separately, the DC Office Employees' Association plans to hold a pen-down strike from September 11 to September 13 to press for various demands.

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- With inputs from agencies

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