Punjab overhauls land partition system, makes digital process mandatory

LAHORE: The Punjab Board of Revenue has introduced major reforms to the system for partitioning jointly owned land making the process more transparent and digitally managed.

According to decisions issued on August 7, 2026 along with detailed instructions for field staff, land partition will no longer be processed solely through traditional patwari files. Instead, the process will be carried out through the Revenue Courts Management System (RCMS) and the PULSE digital portal.

The Board of Revenue identified several irregularities in partition proceedings conducted between February 2025 and July 2026. These included initiating partition without an owner’s application, failing to prepare or upload required maps, ignoring actual possession on the ground and in some cases, partitioning a khewat owned by a single person.

Under the new instructions, partition proceedings cannot be initiated without an application from the owner. Section 135 of the Land Revenue Act requires the owner’s application while Section 135-B requires the case to be registered in the RCMS.

Digital notices and right to present objections

The revenue officer will issue the partition schedule after approval by the Deputy Commissioner and public announcement. All co-owners will be served notices within seven days through digital means, SMS, post and public announcements.

Every affected party will be given a full opportunity to appear before the Tehsildar or Naib Tehsildar and submit their response and objections.

Under the new procedure, preparing the relevant maps and uploading them to the RCMS will also be mandatory. These documents will include ownership details, the proposed method of partition, field maps, Tatima Shajra and the field book.

Existing possession to be taken into account

According to the instructions, the actual possession of land at the site will also be taken into account during partition to help reduce future disputes.

If a co-owner is found cultivating more land than their legal share, the revenue officer may determine mesne profits meaning compensation payable to the affected party in accordance with the law.

After hearing and deciding objections, the relevant partition orders and documents will be issued. Warrants for delivery of possession and the mutation of partition will then be processed.

Sole-owner Khewat cannot be partitioned

A key provision of the new procedure states that a Salim Khewat in which there is only one owner cannot be partitioned. According to the Board’s instructions, any partition carried out in violation of this provision will be legally void.

The reforms aim to prevent unauthorized partition proceedings, protect landowners rights and reduce disputes arising from incorrect maps or failure to consider actual possession at the site.

Procedure for consolidation of khata

The Board of Revenue also issued Notification No. 1401-2026/LR-III on August 7, 2026 introducing a procedure for the consolidation of khatas under Section 147-A to facilitate land partition.

Under the new procedure, an application for consolidation of khatas will be submitted to the Collector of the Sub-Division who will forward it to the Circle Revenue Officer. The consent of at least 25 percent of the owners in each khewat will be mandatory.

The Circle Revenue Officer will submit recommendations on Annexure-A Part-I within 15 days. The Sub-Divisional Collector will forward the case to the District Collector on Part-II within seven days while the District Collector will decide within another seven days whether to approve, amend or reject the case.

After approval, the revenue officer will proceed with the land partition process. The notification was received in Sargodha on August 13, 2026 under Diary No. 2316 and was also forwarded to the relevant Assistant Commissioners.

The Board of Revenue has directed field staff to strictly follow the Land Revenue Act, 1967 and the newly issued instructions while handling land partition cases.