Pune Hosts Maharashtra’s First Revenue Lok Adalat
Pune Hosts Maharashtra’s First Revenue Lok Adalat
Pune, June 10, 2025: Maharashtra’s first-ever Revenue Lok Adalat was inaugurated today in Pune district, marking a major step toward reducing the backlog of land-related cases and improving citizen access to speedy revenue justice. On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced that multi-purpose vehicles will be allocated this year to revenue department headquarters in Pune, Nashik, Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Konkan—extending an earlier decision to provide such vehicles in Nagpur.
Speaking at the inauguration event held at the Pune District Collectorate, Pawar emphasized the importance of equipping officers with adequate infrastructure while expecting quality performance. In the first phase, vehicles will be provided to all divisional commissionerates, followed by other districts in a phased manner.
The event was attended by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLAs Bhimrao Tapkir and Bapusaheb Pathare, Divisional Commissioner in-charge Kavita Dvivedi, Collector Jitendra Dudi, Additional Collector Suhas Mapari, former State Minister Sanjay alias Bala Bhegde, as well as legal professionals and revenue officers from across the district via video conferencing.
Pawar highlighted the significant impact of the Revenue Lok Adalat, noting that around 11,000 revenue-related disputes are expected to be resolved through amicable settlements during the current session. This move is anticipated to ease the burden on both the revenue department and judicial system, saving time, money, and effort for citizens and the administration. Settling disputes consensually will not only resolve village-level conflicts but also restore social harmony and peace. He further suggested that the remaining 20,000 cases be similarly resolved through upcoming Revenue Lok Adalats.
Pawar also called for stricter action under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against those engaging in criminal behavior while the administration diligently performs its duties. He advocated for legislative amendments to make such enforcement possible.
He revealed that departments contributing significant revenue to the state treasury will now receive proportionate incentive funds. The government is also constructing several large administrative buildings and plans to establish a world-class training center for Maharashtra officers at Yashada in Pune, modeled after the Mussoorie academy. A 120-acre plot has already been allocated for this purpose.
Revenue Lok Adalat Initiative to be Implemented Across Maharashtra: Minister Bawankule
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule declared that the Revenue Lok Adalat initiative pioneered by Pune district will now be replicated across the state. He noted that the campaign is enabling justice delivery to common citizens and aligns with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s instructions to the state’s six divisional commissioners to lead transformation efforts in the revenue department.
Bawankule stated that between 3 to 3.5 lakh revenue cases are pending from the level of Nayab Tehsildar to the Mantralaya. In addressing these, the department plans to deploy artificial intelligence and seek cooperation from stakeholders and legal representatives.
He praised the Revenue Lok Adalat for its role in reducing departmental pressure, building a friendly justice system, enabling voluntary compromise, and creating greater transparency in operations. He emphasized that the department is working to resolve long-pending cases from the last 25 years through the government’s 100-day action plan.
According to Bawankule, the state’s revenue could rise by ₹20,000 crore based on initiatives demonstrated by the Pune district. The Pune Collector’s circular related to the e-Ferfar (e-mutation) system has been widely appreciated, and a government resolution will soon be issued to implement it statewide.
The state has also introduced a new sand policy encouraging the use of manufactured sand (M-Sand) made from crushed stone. Government and private lands will be allocated for setting up crushers, and sand distribution will be monitored online through Mahakhanij to curb illegal sand mining and safeguard revenue.
Bawankule also recommended allocating funds for Revenue Lok Adalats similar to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Maharajaswa campaign and reiterated the need for high-tech multipurpose vehicles to improve departmental efficiency.
Collector Jitendra Dudi explained the vision behind organizing the Lok Adalat. He shared that based on the Chief Minister’s directives, Pune district took the lead in organizing the event. There are over 31,000 pending revenue cases in the district across mandal, tehsil, sub-divisional, and additional collector levels—of which 11,589 cases were included in today’s proceedings. The goal is to reduce the number of pending cases from 31,000 to 10,000 by holding such sessions every three months.
Dudi also briefed the attendees on ongoing initiatives such as e-Court, e-Hakk System, e-Ferfar Registration, campaigns to open access roads (panand), and the innovative Sevadoot outreach program. He said the integration of the Mahakhanij and construction permissions systems is expected to increase revenue by ₹150 crore.
During the session, representative litigants received judgment certificates for resolved cases. Lawyers and parties involved shared their reflections, and Additional Collector Suhas Mapari proposed a vote of thanks.
