Odisha tehsildar suspended over allegations of bias in handling partition of property

Sambalpur: Revenue department suspended Kuchinda tehsildar Mitali Madhusmita Dalei following allegations of bias in a land dispute case. The suspension comes after a formal complaint was lodged by local resident Rajesh Agarwal, who claimed that Dalei showed favouritism in handling the partition of property.In the suspension order, the Governor of Odisha, exercising powers under the Odisha Civil Service Rules (OCS), 1962, directed that Dalei be placed under immediate suspension. “The Governor of Odisha, in exercise of the powers conferred under OCS Rules, 1962 hereby places the said Smt. Mitali Madhusmita Dalei, OAS-A(JB), Tahasildar, Kuchinda, Dist- Sambalpur under suspension with immediate effect,” the Saturday order read.Agarwal alleged that his cousins conspired to falsely register mutation cases, declaring him and his family dead in order to take over their ancestral property of late Jagdish Lal Seth.He further stated, “The land transfer has taken place without informing us or sending a proclamation. Even they have shown that me and my siblings are dead. The tehsildar transferred the properties without giving notice to us. When I tried to approach the tehsildar, she misbehaved with me.

I thought it would be better to give a grievance to the honourable revenue minister and chief minister also. I am happy with the action taken.

This gives a strong message that if you do illegal mutation of poor people’s property, you will have to pay the price.”During the suspension period, Dalei has been instructed to report to the collector’s office in Sambalpur and is barred from leaving without prior permission.The revenue department acted swiftly after Agarwal escalated the issue to the chief minister, revenue minister, and revenue divisional commissioner (northern division). A high-level probe is now underway to determine the full extent of irregularities in the land mutation process.