Under the Punjab Land Revenue Act of 1887, there are several classes of revenue officers who are responsible for the collection and administration of land revenue in the Punjab province.
Classes of Revenue Officers
- Patwari: A Patwari is the lowest level of revenue officer in the system. They are responsible for maintaining records of land ownership and cultivation, as well as collecting revenue from farmers.
- Kanungo: A Kanungo is a higher-level revenue officer who is responsible for supervising Patwaris in a specific area. They also assist in land surveys and other administrative tasks.
- Naib-Tehsildar: A Naib-Tehsildar is a revenue officer who is responsible for a sub-division (Tehsil) and supervises the work of Patwaris and Kanungos in that sub-division. They have the authority to settle disputes related to land revenue.
- Tehsildar: A Tehsildar is a revenue officer who is responsible for a district or revenue division and supervises the work of Naib-Tehsildars, Patwaris, and Kanungos in that district. They have the authority to make decisions on land revenue matters and hear appeals.
- Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO): An SDO is an officer who is responsible for a sub-division (Tehsil) and supervises the work of Tehsildars and Naib-Tehsildars in that sub-division. They have the authority to hear appeals from decisions made by lower-level revenue officers.
- District Revenue Officer (DRO): A DRO is a senior revenue officer who is responsible for a district or revenue division. They supervise the work of Tehsildars, SDOs, and other revenue officers in that district and have the authority to hear appeals from decisions made by lower-level revenue officers.
Key Points to Remember
- Patwari: They keep records of land ownership and cultivation and collect revenue from farmers.
- Kanungo: They supervise Patwaris and assist in land surveys.
- Naib-Tehsildar: They supervise Patwaris and Kanungos in a sub-division and can settle disputes related to land revenue.
- Tehsildar: They supervise Naib-Tehsildars, Patwaris, and Kanungos in a district and make decisions on land revenue matters and hear appeals.
- Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO): They supervise Tehsildars and Naib-Tehsildars in a sub-division and can hear appeals from decisions made by lower-level revenue officers.
- District Revenue Officer (DRO): They supervise Tehsildars, SDOs, and other revenue officers in a district and can hear appeals from decisions made by lower-level revenue officers.
