Thane Land Records Office Accused of Withholding Hissa Records of Mira-Bhayandar Survey Number
Citizens Allege Repeated Denial of Land Documents Despite Multiple Applications and RTI Requests
The Inspector of Land Records Office, Thane has come under sharp scrutiny after citizens alleged that the office repeatedly refused to provide the hissa (sub-division) details (maps) of an important survey numbers located in the Mira-Bhayandar region. The Gatbook records —crucial for land ownership verification, mutation entries, documentation, and future transactions—have reportedly been withheld for months without any lawful justification.
According to the complainants, several visits were made to the Thane Land Record office, accompanied by formal applications for certified copies and Right to Information (RTI) requests. Citizens specifically sought the gat book entries, hissa details, measurement records, as per mutation extracts linked to the survey number. However, officials allegedly declined the requests, citing reasons such as “the matter is in court”, “inquiry is ongoing” or “records cannot be issued at this stage”.
Citizens claim these explanations are misleading. Documents available with them indicate that the concerned survey number has:
- No court case pending,
- No stay order issued, and
- No mortgage or loan entries recorded.
This raises serious concerns over why basic land records are being withheld by the authority responsible for maintaining them.
Under the RTI Act, land records fall under the category of public documents, making them accessible to any citizen seeking information. Withholding such information without legal grounds constitutes a violation of transparency norms, say the complainants.
Due to the non-availability of the hissa records, several essential processes—including land transactions, inheritance procedures, hissa determination, and document registrations—have stalled, causing substantial distress to affected residents. The issue has further intensified doubts regarding the transparency and efficiency of the Thane Land Records office.
The complainants now intend to escalate the matter to the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), the Thane District Collector, and, if necessary, the Maharashtra State Information Commission for appropriate action.