Patwari and Tehsildar Roles in Tenancy Administration

8.1 The Patwari (Village Level Functionary)

The Patwari (also called Lekhpal or Kanungo's assistant) is the basic unit of revenue administration and the primary link between the tenant and the legal system. Key duties:

• Maintains Khasra (field register) and Khata (land account)
• Records crop details every six months (Rabi and Kharif seasons)
• Prepares Jamabandi (Record of Rights) every five years
• Reports mutations (changes in tenancy) through the mutation register (Parivartan Register)
• Issues Nakal (certified copies) of land records to tenants on application
• Acts as the ground-level witness in revenue proceedings

The Patwari's Khasra is the first document that establishes someone's status as a cultivator and is critical evidence in tenancy disputes.

8.2 The Tehsildar

The Tehsildar is the Revenue Court at the sub-district (Tehsil) level with both administrative and judicial functions:

• Administrative: Supervises Patwaris, certifies Jamabandi, issues income/caste certificates
• Judicial: First Revenue Court with jurisdiction to hear ejectment cases, rent disputes, mutation disputes, and demarcation proceedings under the Act
• Powers: Can summon parties, record evidence, examine documents, order survey, and issue decrees

Appeal Chain:
Patwari (dispute) → Tehsildar (Revenue Court) → SDO → Collector → Additional Collector → Revenue Appellate Authority → Board of Revenue → High Court (writ jurisdiction)

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