Forensic Audit of Dharani Transactions Moves Forward After Vetting

Quick Summary

• Farmers of Narayanapuram village in Mahabubabad protested in front of the Secretariat in Hyderabad.
• The Telangana government plans to launch a forensic audit into alleged irregularities within Dharani, its integrated land record management system introduced under the BRS government.
• Complaints about Dharani include:

– Patta lands being moved to Part-B (prohibited list), which contains over 18 lakh acres.
– Difficulties from removal of “enjoyment column” in records, leading to mismatches between actual and registered land extents.
– Missing survey numbers; cases of land being registered under incorrect owners without owners’ knowledge.
– Lack of field inspections before uploading records to Dharani portal.

• Senior officials have finalized terms for the forensic audit awaiting legal department clearance.
• five reputed public sector agencies with expertise are shortlisted; expressions of interest (EoI) will follow once conditions receive approval.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The planned forensic audit into Telangana’s Dharani portal reveals serious concerns regarding openness and governance mechanisms surrounding land ownership records. issues such as missing or inaccurate data and mismatched ownership details significantly impact farmers and rural stakeholders, creating potential legal disputes over vast amounts of agricultural land (including areas exceeding millions of acres). while entrusting public sector experts indicates intent for impartiality,delays stemming from procedural clearances could hinder timely redressal. Ensuring accountability will be crucial both in rebuilding trust among affected citizens and enhancing credibility of digital governance initiatives like Dharani.

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