The process of sub-dividing land in Andaman and Nicobar Islands has come under sharp focus with the union territory’s Member of Parliament, Bishnu Pada Ray, urging the Administration to take immediate steps to streamline procedures. In a representation to the Chief Secretary, the MP raised concerns over the growing difficulties faced by ordinary citizens in securing land sub-division approvals under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Land Revenue and Land Reforms Regulation, 1966.
While acknowledging recent efforts by the Administration to improve transparency through digitalization of services and modernized revenue practices, the MP said the specific area of land sub-division has become unnecessarily cumbersome, leading to widespread public hardship. He described the current system as one that is increasingly driving citizens into avoidable disputes and litigation rather than offering clarity and relief.
Sub-division of land is a statutory process under Sections 84 and 148 of the regulation, intended to keep land records accurate and updated. The MP emphasized that in most cases, requests for sub-division arise out of inheritance or transfers through purchase, where legal heirs or buyers need their ownership clearly demarcated. Without timely sub-division, however, heirs and purchasers remain listed only as co-tenants in records. This, he warned, often leads to disputes within families and between buyers and sellers, clogging the legal system with unnecessary cases.
The MP’s strongest criticism was directed at the Revenue Department’s recent insistence that citizens submit proposals strictly in the form of Field Measurement Books (FMB) prepared by private surveyors. He argued that this practice has led to frequent discrepancies and rejections, putting ordinary landholders at the mercy of inconsistent and costly private surveys. Reports of harassment and even allegations of unfair practices have surfaced, eroding public confidence in the system.
According to the MP, the process of sub-division should instead be simplified by relying on existing records of rights, supplemented by basic sketches or consent notes from the parties involved. He suggested that applications supported in this way should be processed promptly, ensuring that citizens do not face unnecessary hurdles.
Further, he recommended that final measurement, demarcation, and certification should be carried out by official staff of the Survey and Land Records department. This would not only ensure accuracy but also restore faith in the process by eliminating dependence on private surveyors. The MP said that discontinuing the current practice of mandatory private FMB proposals was essential to regaining public trust.
Beyond the procedural issues, Bishnu Pada Ray highlighted the larger governance implications. He said that a streamlined sub-division system is not merely an administrative convenience but a fundamental tool to reduce civil and criminal litigation, strengthen land governance, and improve the quality of digital land records. Without such reforms, he warned, the administration’s efforts at modernizing land services risk being undermined by continued public dissatisfaction.
The MP’s intervention comes against the backdrop of rising concern among citizens over delays in processing sub-division requests. Many have complained that the current system not only burdens them financially but also forces them into prolonged disputes over unclear land ownership. By pressing for official intervention, the MP has sought to place responsibility squarely on the Revenue Department to perform its statutory duties transparently.
In his communication, Bishnu Pada Ray urged the Chief Secretary to issue comprehensive instructions to streamline the process and to make the system truly citizen-friendly. He underscored that sub-division is not a technical hurdle but a statutory obligation that the administration must fulfill without delay or discrimination.
The call for reform is expected to put pressure on the A&N Administration to revisit existing guidelines and address the concerns raised. If implemented, the suggested changes could significantly ease the burden on landholders while enhancing the credibility of the revenue administration.
