Revenue Patwaries of Mandi Bahauddin district are masters of their own. They change and make new entries in revenue records illegally and fraudulently for the benefits of those who bribe them. They, being public servants knowingly disobey directions of law with intend to defraud peasants with small land holding. They act like despots and have no fear of their superiors. Procedure of lodging complaint against patwaries is very lengthy and time consuming. Grieved ones present complaints to DO(R) in person. DO(R) endorses remarks on one top corner of application like "DDO (R) to report. Applicants go to DDO(R) office and wait for the availability of DDO(R). In many cases it takes one to two weeks to produce application before DDO (R). He again endorses direction to Tehsildar to make report on the application. The applicant then moves to the office of Tehsildar. Tehsildar again write down on the application "Qanongo to report on the matter". Qanongo similarly directs Patwari to prepare report on the application. Finally, the applicant hands over the application to Patwari who even does not acknowledge receipt of application in writing. Patwari takes his own time to prepare report. Some time the application is displaced and the patwari asks the applicant to file fresh application. The applicant has to repeat the same channel/procedure again. In case patwari is kind to make report on application, the applicant then take it back to Tehsildar, DDO(R) and DO(R). I, being victim of Patwari's fraud, once filed application to DO (R). After lot of efforts, it took me two years to obtain patwari report on my application and then moving it back through proper channel to DO(R). In my opinion if members of revenue staff perform their duties honestly, number of civil and criminal cases will reduce. Consequently judicial official working in courts will fall surplus. Therefore instead of increasing number of courts, the government is suggested to exercise checks against fraudulent entries being made by revenue staff. Because, fraudulent entries made in revenue records are the main causes of fighting amongst the land owners and civil litigation. Chief Minister is requested to take notice of criminal attitude of revenue officials in order to protect land owners from suffering losses at the hands of revenue staff.-GANGLY KHAN, Mandi Bahauddin, via e-mail, July 2.