Misuse prompts Keralam Revenue dept. to cancel 2017 circular permitting correction of survey numbers

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Widespread misuse of the 2017 circular has been reported from Chinnakanal village in Udumbanchola and Wagamon village in Peerumade taluk in Idukki district in Keralam. (Photo for representation)

Citing “widespread misuse” the Revenue Department has issued a fresh circular cancelling an October 2017 circular that permitted corrections in title deed forms where survey numbers were erroneously entered.

Through a September 28, 2026 circular, the department has directed District Collectors to submit within a week to the government through the Land Revenue Commissioner a list of cases in which the survey numbers of land parcels were amended as per the 2017 circular.

All title deeds for which survey numbers were amended will be re-examined. The Revenue Divisional Officers should be tasked with this responsibility and the process completed within three months, as per the new circular.

This follows a finding that the directions of the 2017 circular were being widely misused. According to the circular, if the survey number of land for which title deed was allowed has been incorrectly recorded in the deed form, these should be corrected by tahsildars after conducting detailed inspections. However, it has now been found that on the basis of title deeds issued, land of the same measurement and contours as a certain parcel of land but with a different survey number was acquired and sold by misusing the provisions of the circular. This was widespread in Chinnakanal village in Udumbanchola and Wagamon village in Peerumade taluk in Idukki district.

Survey numbers were amended in over 600 cases by misusing the circular, according to the Land Revenue Commissioner’s communication to the government sent in August 2026.

The Land Revenue Commissioner has been asked to submit a report to the government on ways to avoid hardships to people on account of the survey numbers being incorrectly recorded.

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