Telangana to scrap posts of VROs as part of major reforms in Revenue System

Telangana Government has decided to scrap posts of Village Revenue Officers as part of major reforms under proposal in the Revenue Department. The registrations of properties and other documents have been stopped across the state from today onwards till further orders. State Cabinet meeting held late in the evening yesterday in Hyderabad has sanctioned approval to many draft bills to bring in reforms in this regard.

Later the authorities in the Chief Minister’s Office have revealed that the Cabinet has approved over half a dozen proposed laws during its meeting and all the bills will be introduced in the current Monsoon Session of the Assembly. The Assembly Session began yesterday and will continue till 28th of this month.

In a major reform aimed at streamlining the Revenue System in the state, the Telangana Government has proposed scrapping the posts of Village Revenue Officers (VROs). They are the officials who hold all major land records at the ground level. A draft bill in this regard was approved by the State Cabinet



yesterday.

State Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar also issued a Government Order, stalling all types of Registrations of Properties and other documents across the state from today onwards. The District Collectors have been asked to ensure surrender of all records presently with the VROs to their higher officials.

Meanwhile, the State Cabinet has given its nod to the proposed New Revenue Bill and about half a dozen revenue related amendment bills which will pave way for bringing in reforms in the functioning of the Revenue Department.

The Telangana Abolition of the Posts of Village Revenue Officers Bill, the Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Bill are among the bills which will be presented before both the houses of legislature during the current session.

Nearly 37 years after the then Chief Minister N T Rama Rao abolished Patwari system in the Revenue Department, the present KCR Government has initiated a similar reform by rooting out the VROs system.