Bhubaneswar, 19 December (H.S.): In a major administrative reform aimed at easing the burden of prolonged litigation over land records, the Odisha Revenue Department has empowered tehsildars to approve mutation of land on the basis of old registered sale deeds.

The department on Thursday issued a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in accordance with the Odisha Survey and Settlement (Amendment) Rules, 2025. The new guidelines enable landowners to seek correction and mutation of land records at the tehsil level, eliminating the need to approach revisional courts or the Board of Revenue.

Under the revised framework, owners of settled land can now directly apply for correction and mutation based on their old registered sale deeds at the respective tehsil offices. Previously, such cases required litigants to move revisional courts or the Board of Revenue, often leading to repeated court appearances and prolonged delays.

With the implementation of the SOP, tehsildars have been formally authorised to hear mutation-related cases, examine documentary evidence, and independently pass orders on mutation applications.

According to the SOP, approximately 1.15 lakh mutation cases currently pending before various revisional courts will be transferred to the concerned tehsil offices. These cases will be identified and digitised before being routed through the Court Case Management System to the respective tehsildars for disposal.

The reform is expected to significantly streamline the land record correction process, reduce litigation, and provide faster relief to landowners across the state.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda