PUNE: Ramesh Jadhav, a farmer from Baramati, faced concerns about a prolonged wait to update his name in the 7/12 extract—the vital land ownership document—after losing his father last year. Fortunately, he was able to make the necessary changes within weeks and at no cost, thanks to a special initiative launched by the Pune district administration.
Pune district has now updated over 15,000 land records, replacing deceased landowners’ names with those of their rightful heirs. This update is part of a broader state initiative initiated earlier this year, identifying 21,017 such cases in the district.
Additional Collector Suhas Mapari informed TOI, “We’ve successfully completed more than 15,000 corrections after collaborating with gram sevaks and the death registration department. The remaining 4,000 cases face delays due to legal issues. We anticipate completion within two to three months,” he stated.
Officials noted that talathis and gram sevaks have been instrumental in cross-checking data with registrars, issuing notices, and collecting documents from heirs to finalize updates. “It’s the responsibility of the talathi and circle officers to verify paperwork, conduct local inquiries, and update records,” explained a revenue official. Farmer Pushpa Chavan successfully changed her name on the property papers after her husband’s death, thanks to the talathi’s inquiries.
She shared with TOI that the process was seamless, aided by the government’s focused efforts, which enabled her to secure a bank loan that she otherwise couldn’t. The 7/12 extract, crucial for reflecting ownership and agricultural details in Maharashtra, often remains unchanged after a landowner’s death, forcing legal heirs to seek court intervention to claim their rights.
This ongoing initiative, spanning 45,000 villages in the state, aims to alleviate these challenges without any fees, as stated by a district revenue official.
The initiative has provided significant relief to villagers across talukas such as Junnar, Maval, Velhe, Purandar, and Ambegaon—regions with a high number of such cases. “This was long overdue. My father passed away in 2018, yet his name remained on the land record, preventing us from accessing farm schemes or obtaining a loan,” commented Tukaram Jadhav, a farmer from Maval. “Now, thanks to the officials’ accountability, my name has finally been updated without needing legal action,” he added. The state revenue department has set specific timelines for completing these updates in each village.
In many instances, talathis announce names during gram sabhas and engage with villagers to identify unreported deaths and gather necessary documents such as death certificates and succession proofs. Suman Kendre, a widow from Ambegaon, expressed relief: “For years, I struggled to change the land record after my husband passed away. This process has freed me from that hassle. Now, I can access crop loans and government aid.”
Officials revealed that a proposal has been submitted to the state government for integrating various land record databases, aiming to expedite future updates. “With a unified data system, we can minimize delays and errors,” he explained. This drive is not only addressing ownership issues but is also expected to reduce land disputes and enhance access to agricultural and welfare schemes for rightful landholders, officials indicated.
