Revenue records to cost more in Himachal as government revises jamabandi fee

Shimla, Sept 11

The Himachal Pradesh government has revised service charges for accessing revenue documents, effectively doubling the cost of obtaining copies of jamabandi and related records.

As per a notification issued by the Revenue Department on September 5, the fee for a jamabandi copy procured through Lok Mitra Kendras will now be Rs 20 per page, compared to the earlier Rs 10. Further, applicants seeking documents through the e-district portal will have to pay a fixed charge of Rs 50 (inclusive of GST) for each application, applicable per account number.

The order, signed by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Kamlesh Kumar Pant, clarifies that the additional amount will be directed towards upgrading IT facilities in patwar khanas, kanungo offices, tehsil premises, and other revenue institutions. Officials believe the revision will help streamline land record management and bring more efficiency and transparency to the system.

Jamabandi copies are vital documents for land transactions, inheritance cases, and availing bank loans. The hike, however, comes at a time when the state is coping with financial stress due to extensive monsoon damages, raising concerns about the added burden on ordinary citizens.

According to officials, the move was necessitated by rising administrative expenses and the need to modernize revenue offices across the State.