BoR approves monitoring, accountability of revenue courts

LAHORE : Punjab Board of Revenue (BoR) has approved much-needed system of monitoring and accountability of revenue courts in the province and for the purpose it has approved establishment of two monitoring and accountability committees at the Board of Revenue level.

As per details shared with the media, the need of a strong system of checks and balances over exercise of judicial powers by the revenue courts was being felt for quite some.

Though a system of hierarchical oversight over executive functions of various tiers of revenue department existed, yet need was felt to put in place an effective system of monitoring and accountability on judicial side which could check flagrant violations of law and serious deviations from the laid down procedure.

The idea was discussed by Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed in various meetings of the full board which unanimously approved it. Formulation of modalities was assigned to Member (Taxes) Zaman Wattoo. Minutes dated 09-10-2024 indicate that constitution of two monitoring and accountability committees was approved by the Full Board of Board of Revenue in exercise of powers under section 4 of the Punjab Board of Revenue Act, 1957.

Guidance was also sought from the District Judiciary Monitoring System of Lahore High Court in determining the terms of reference of the committees. Committee No-I will be headed by the Senior Member Board of Revenue and will include four other members of Board of Revenue. The committee would oversee the functioning of the courts of Members of Board of Revenue, commissioners and the deputy commissioners.

In case of serious violation of law or deviation from the laid down procedure, the committee would take action in exercise of its powers of superintendence and would decide about the action to be taken.

Committee No-II will be headed by the member (Taxes) and would include two other members of Board of Revenue. This committee would oversee the work of additional commissioners, additional deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners and revenue officers across the province. The full board also recommended a separate Wing for Internal Audit with the name of Audit, Inspection & Monitoring (AIM) Wing which would be responsible for ensuring financial propriety.

It will audit the revenues generated through stamp duty, mutation fee, agricultural income tax, proceeds of sale and rent from state land, condonation fee, rent of shops on state land etc. Under the restructuring process, the Inspectorate of Stamps, Colony Audit Cell, Members’ Inspection Cell and Revenue Audit & Inspection Cell would be placed under the Member (AIM). These reforms are expected to play a crucial role in bringing about much-needed transparency and accountability in the operations of the Revenue Department.