'Should we extort like goons!' Tahsildars against bid to make them liable for revenue arrears

alakkad: Loan recovery agents are a hated and feared lot the world over. What if the government servants responsible for revenue collection are to act like debt collectors in the private financial sector when they approach people who are yet to clear their taxes?

Tahsildars in Kerala have opposed a move of the Land Revenue Commissioner to make them accountable for pending revenue arrears. In case the decision is implemented, staff from village officers to the District Collectors would have to carry out some unpleasant tasks.

The state’s Land Revenue Commissioner had earlier written to all the District Collectors seeking their opinion on a proposal to make employees accountable for lapses in revenue recovery procedures.

(A tahsildar is an officer of the revenue department is responsible for revenue collection in his jurisdiction.)

The Collectors had forwarded the Commissioner’s letter to the tahsildars for their response. In their replies, the tahsildars pointed out that the new responsibility would lower their self-esteem as they would be forced to engage in ‘humiliating’ activities.

“If dues over loans or taxes have to be recovered in a forcible manner, village officers will be compelled to act like goons,” wrote a tahsildar in Idukki to the District Collector there.

Moreover, in future, employees will not be willing to work in revenue recovery sections and taluk offices, pointed out the tahsildars.

After garnering the opinion of tahsildars and Deputy Collectors, the Collectors will prepare a reply to the Commissioner.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister K Rajan said that he was unaware of the Commissioner’s plans regarding revenue recovery. “The letter was sent by the Commissioner to the Collectors without my knowledge,” he said.

Employees’ associations including Joint Council, NGO Union and NGO Association have already raised a protest against the Commissioner’s move.

The Commissioner’s move was exposed by ‘Malayala Manorama.’

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