Patwaris begin 3-day pen-down strike across J&K

By Aatif Qayoom
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14 Apr 2026

· Seek GQ circles, salary upgrade, Ladakh Model Promotion

Srinagar, Apr 13: Patwaris across J&K on Monday began a three-day pen-down strike, gathering at district headquarters and suspending work. The protest has affected revenue services, especially in rural areas where people depend on patwaris for land records and related work.

The employees are demanding the creation of Girdawar Qanoon circles and more patwar halqas. They said most villages do not have Girdawars, which is delaying field work and affecting public services. They added that the creation of GQ circles at Panchayat level was already part of earlier Cabinet plans but has not been implemented.

According to them, there are 1,632 patwar halqas across J&K, a number that has remained unchanged since 1959. This is despite a sharp increase in tehsils and nayabats, especially after 2014. Due to this gap, many patwaris are handling multiple assignments, which is affecting the quality and speed of work.

They also raised the issue of direct recruitment for Naib Tehsildars. The employees want this stopped and replaced with a system like Ladakh, where 75 percent posts are filled through departmental promotion and 25 percent through direct quota. They believe this will improve efficiency and reward experience.

Another major demand is the grant of technical and professional grade in salary. Patwaris said their role has become more complex, especially after digitisation of land records. They are also responsible for fixing errors in digital data, which requires skill and accountability.

The association said that creating GQ circles could generate around 3,000 new patwari posts. This would not only reduce workload but also create job opportunities for youth.

They also demanded rationalisation of multiple assignments so that work is handled properly without errors. Protesters warned that if their demands are ignored, they will continue their protest until demands are met.