DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand Revenue Board has ordered 35 Naib Tehsildars (revenue officials) to undergo re-training and an examination, citing concerns over their performance and discipline.
These officials look after revenue collection in villages as well as law and order in areas that are yet to be transferred to the regular police. The decision came after several trainee Naib Tehsildars failed their exams but were still deployed.
A shocking revelation emerged about the conduct of Naib Tehsildar trainees after they passed the exam conducted by the state revenue board. Former executive director of the state revenue board Shrish Kumar highlighted disciplinary issues in a letter to the revenue secretary, sources said.
“It said that 35 out of 36 trainees showed unsatisfactory behaviour, failed to take notes, were distracted by mobile phones in class, and scored below par in 4 to 11 subjects,” said a source, adding the state government has taken the matter “extremely seriously.”
Official sources said the state revenue council has directed the 35 trainee naib tehsildars to undergo re-training for two months, starting December 1. This decision aims to enhance their performance and discipline, they said.
Commissioner and Secretary of Department of Revenue and Board of Revenue, Chandresh Kumar, shared the development with TNIE. “The revenue council has decided to recall the Naib Tehsildars from all districts for retraining. They will have to undergo various exams as per the procedure,” Chandresh Kumar stated.
This decision comes after the trainees failed to meet the required standards in a recent exam but were still deployed, said Commissioner Chandresh Yadav. “Previously, too, many such officials failed their exams but were still given postings,” said a source.
Officials said the retraining will include comprehensive exams to assess knowledge and skills. Posting will be contingent upon passing the exam after a two-month wait.
In a related development, Shrish Kumar, executive director of the Uttarakhand Revenue Training Institute, has been removed and placed on compulsory wait, sources said. This move comes after a controversy surrounding the performance of Naib Tehsildar trainees.
Sources said Shrish Kumar has been replaced by CS Dobhal as new executive director. Dobhal had previously taken VRS, and his sudden return has surprised all.
A Naib Tehsildar has many duties—collect land revenue and other dues, maintain revenue records and crop statistics, supervise the work of the Office Qanungo, and ensure that their registers are maintained properly. These officials also look after land testing and facilitate development assistance.