Archive · 29 Sep 2026
MP Government Seeks Old Cases Amid Patwari Registry Standoff
The Madhya Pradesh government wants Patwaris to help complete property registries under a village mapping program.
The Patwaris have refused to do this specific work.
The government says it will look for older corruption and other cases involving them.
Officials also warned that Patwaris could face action for refusing the assignment.
The government had promised that their names would not be printed on registry papers.
It also said disputed cases would not be assigned to them.
A group of ministers discussed these concerns with the Patwaris.
The Patwaris say no agreement has been reached and may stop all their work if action is taken.
Madhya Pradesh officials directed districts to identify old corruption and other cases against Patwaris.
The move follows Patwaris’ refusal to conduct registries under the SVAMITVA Yojana.
The government assured Patwaris that their names would not appear on registry papers and disputed cases would be excluded.
Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal ordered Patwaris to conduct the work from Thursday to Saturday and warned of action.
Patwari Association president Upendra Baghel warned of a complete work boycott if disciplinary action is taken.
- Who
- The Madhya Pradesh government, revenue officials, and Patwaris, represented by Patwari Association state president Upendra Baghel.
- What
- The government is seeking information on old cases against Patwaris amid their refusal to conduct SVAMITVA-related registries.
- When
- The Chief Secretary directed Patwaris to conduct the registry work from Thursday to Saturday; no calendar date is specified.
- Where
- The dispute concerns Madhya Pradesh, with information requested from districts and the report datelined Bhopal.
- Why
- The government is preparing possible action after Patwaris refused to perform registry work under the SVAMITVA Yojana.
Government Position
Patwari Position
Registry work
Government Position
The government directed Patwaris to conduct SVAMITVA registries and said they could face action for refusing.
Patwari Position
Patwaris are refusing the SVAMITVA-related work and say no agreement has been reached with the government.
Protection from liability
Government Position
The government assured Patwaris that their names would not appear on registry papers and that disputed cases would be excluded.
Patwari Position
Despite those assurances and discussions with a four-minister committee, Patwaris have maintained their refusal.
Possible escalation
Government Position
The revenue department is collecting information on old corruption and other cases to prepare possible action.
Patwari Position
Patwaris have warned of a complete boycott of their duties if disciplinary action is taken.
- Scheme
- Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) Yojana
- Government action
- Districts were asked to report corruption allegations, disproportionate property holdings, Lokayukta cases, EOW cases, pending prosecution approvals, and probe findings.
- Government assurances
- Patwaris’ names would not be printed on registry papers, and disputed cases would not be assigned to them.
- Work directive
- Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal directed Patwaris to conduct registries from Thursday to Saturday.
- Patwari response
- Patwaris are currently abstaining from SVAMITVA-related work while continuing other duties.
- Escalation warning
- Upendra Baghel warned that Patwaris would stop all other work if the government took action against them.
- Registries completed
- Baghel claimed that not a single registry had been completed so far.