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Digitisation has changed the way government records are created, stored and accessed. In J&K, the move towards digital revenue records is an important step. It can reduce paperwork, improve access and make official services faster. But technology alone cannot fix errors that already exist in the system.
Revenue records affect land ownership, inheritance, property transactions and many other aspects of daily life. Even a small mistake in a land record can create years of difficulty for a family. A wrong name, incorrect land measurement, outdated ownership entry or missing mutation can lead to disputes and repeated visits to government offices.
Digitising such records without first correcting these mistakes risks carrying old problems into a new system. A digital error remains an error. In some cases, it may even become harder for ordinary citizens to understand or challenge.
The priority should therefore be clear. Revenue records must be verified, corrected and regularly updated before digitisation is treated as a complete solution. Field verification should form an important part of this process. Revenue officials must compare digital entries with original records and ground realities, especially in cases involving disputed or inherited land.
The government can also strengthen public participation. Citizens should have a simple mechanism to view their land records, report discrepancies and seek corrections without making repeated visits to offices. Applications for corrections should carry clear timelines. People should also be able to track the status of their complaints.
Training revenue officials is equally important. Digitisation requires more than computers and software. Officials must understand the system, maintain accurate data and respond to citizens in a timely manner.
There is also a need for regular audits of digital revenue records. Errors should be identified through periodic reviews rather than waiting for citizens to discover them when they need a land document.
Digitisation should be seen as a tool, not the destination. Its real success will be measured by whether people receive accurate records, faster services and fair decisions.
J&K has an opportunity to build a modern and reliable revenue system. That requires combining technology with careful verification, accountability and responsive administration. If the foundation is accurate, digitisation can deliver real benefits. If the foundation contains errors, technology will only give those errors a digital form.
The goal should be simple; correct the record first, digitise it properly and keep it accurate. That is how technology can strengthen public trust rather than merely change the format of government records.
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