Maharashtra Revenue Department forms vigilance squads to boost transparency

The Maharashtra Revenue Department has formed Divisional Vigilance squads and a statelevel committee to ensure greater transparency accountability and a peoplecentric approach in its functioning reported news agency IANSThe Revenue Department announced the decision on Thursday on the eve of completion of oneyear term of the BJPled MahaYuti government on December 5Dedicated Vigilance Squads are being constituted at the level of each Divisional Commissioner to conduct effective and timebound inquiries into complaints against officers and employees concerning revenuerelated matters minor minerals land records stamp duty land measurement and allied functions These teams will complete a preliminary inquiry and submit their report to the competent authority within 30 days for regular complaints and within 15 days for extremely serious complaints Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said reported IANSA statelevel committee chaired by me as the Revenue Minister is being formed to periodically review the functioning of these Vigilance teams and recommend necessary improvements said the statement issued by the Revenue Ministers office reported IANSOn the occasion of the first anniversary of the state government this initiative marks a significant milestone in our commitment to transparent responsive and efficient governance the Minister noted reported IANSMinister Bawankule finalised the working procedure and thereafter the Revenue Department issued a Government Resolution on Thursday directing all Divisional Commissioners to establish the respective vigilance squads within the next 15 daysThe decision was taken to ensure indepth examination of serious complaints received against Revenue Department officers and employees regarding irregularities in land measurement minor minerals stamp duty and other revenuerelated work The department believes that proper and impartial inquiry into such complaints will help enhance the credibility of the administration the Minister saidAccording to the government resolution the seven new vigilance squads are established at the Divisional Commissioner levelThese squads will be chaired by the Additional Commissioner Revenue Divisional Commissioner Office and comprise Member Secretary Deputy Collector Revenue and members including Deputy Collector District Superintendent Land Records District Mining Officer Joint District Registrar and an officer of Tehsildar rankA minimum of four officers must be physically present during any inquiry conducted by the squad The squad will also have the authority to investigate in another division if the situation demands the government resolution said reported IANSA sixmember statelevel committee led by Revenue Minister Bawankule has been constituted to ensure the efficiency and regularity of the vigilance workThe committee includes the Additional Chief Secretary Revenue one Joint Secretary and three Deputy SecretariesThe departments initiative will make the process of primary investigation onsite inquiry document verification and report submission for serious complaints concerning minor minerals land stamp duty land measurement and ancillary work more rapid and effective Minister Bawankule saidWith inputs from IANS