Odisha Tehsildars empowered to approve mutation of old land deeds; Revenue Dept issues SOP

In a significant administrative reform aimed at reducing prolonged litigation over land records, the Odisha Revenue Department has empowered tehsildars to approve mutation of land based on old registered sale deeds.

The department, on Thursday, issued a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in line with the Odisha Survey and Settlement (Amendment) Rules, 2025, enabling landowners to correct records without approaching revisional Courts or the Board of Revenue.

Tehsildars Get Decision-Making Powers

Under the revised framework, owners of settled land can now apply for correction and mutation of land records on the basis of their old registered sale deeds directly at the tehsil level.

Earlier, such matters required litigants to move revisional Courts or the Board of Revenue, often resulting in repeated court visits and long delays. With the new SOP, tehsildars have been formally authorised to hear these cases, assess evidence, and pass mutation orders independently.

Backlog Of Cases To Shift From Courts

According to the SOP, nearly 1.15 lakh mutation-related cases currently pending in various revisional  Courts will be transferred to the respective tehsil offices. These cases will first be identified and digitised before being routed through the Court Case Management System to the concerned tahsildars.

It is worth noting that the Revenue Department has set a deadline of January 31, 2026, to complete the entire transfer and digitisation process.

Cases in which hearings have already concluded and judgments are reserved, will continue to remain with the respective courts. Such courts have been directed to pronounce final orders by the 31st of the current month.

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Online Application And Field Verification

Applicants will be required to submit their applications through the Revenue Department’s online portal by uploading old sale deeds and supporting documents. After a case is admitted, the tehsildar will arrange verification of documents through the record keeper and seek a field inspection report from the Revenue Inspector regarding possession of the land.

During case disposal, older matters will be prioritised, and hearings will be conducted by allowing both parties to present their case.