Board of Revenue (BoR) Punjab has sent a draft to the Punjab Law Department asking for creation of divisions in the province through amendment in the Punjab Land Revenue Act, which is the first step towards restoring the office of Commissioner in the province, sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday.
They said the Punjab government is planning to restore the office of Commissioner in the province, which was abolished by the previous government and replaced it by new local government system. According to them, after the induction of new local government system, the word of 'division' was deleted from the Punjab Land Revenue Act.
As a first step, word of 'division' would be included in the Act, which would pave the way for creation of new divisions in the province, and after that the post of Commissioner would be created. Besides the post of Commissioner, one post of Additional Commissioner and two posts of Assistant Commissioner, (Development) and General, would also be created at each divisional headquarters.
Sources said after the creation of divisions, amendments would be made in the Punjab Land Revenue Act to fix the responsibilities of Commissioner, Additional Commissioner and Assistant Commissioners. Under the amended Act the word 'Commissioner' would replace 'Executive District Officer (Revenue)'. "The amendment would also be needed to transfer the powers of EDO (Revenue) to the Commissioner, as some powers regarding revenue matters were given to EDO (Revenue) by the previous regime," they added.
"Initially the Commissioners would be given the powers pertaining to revenue affairs, price checking and controlling of edible items prices, initiating action against profiteers and hoarders, encroachments on state and public land and implementation of food stamp scheme," he added.
Many senior officials opined that by restoring the Commissioner's office and in the process clipping the powers of EDO (Revenue), a constitutional conflict might arise, since the existing local government system was inducted through Local Government Ordinance, which is protected by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. "Hence, for making amendments in the Local Government Ordinance, the provincial government has to seek permission of the President or wait till August 2009 when it will not be part of the Sixth Schedule," he added.
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