Impact of Arson Attacks on Land Revenue Offices
During the nationwide anti-corruption protests on September 8 and 9, several Land Revenue Offices across Nepal were targeted by arson attacks. These incidents led to the destruction of critical land ownership records, forcing landowners to go through lengthy procedures to verify and restore their documents. The process requires physical presence and submission of various documents, creating significant challenges for those affected.
Affected Districts and Office Notices
Land Revenue Offices in Kalanki, Bharatpur, Kaski, and other districts have issued notices urging landowners to apply for record verification with the necessary documents. According to the Department of Land Management and Archive, 21 such offices, including those in Kalanki, Kaski, Bharatpur, Banke, Morang, Butwal, Dhangadhi, and Khairahani, were impacted by the arson during the protests initiated by Gen Z youths.
Digital Records and Verification Challenges
Officials from the department mentioned that while most of these offices are digitalized, some do not have complete digital records. In cases where digital archives are unavailable, verifying and restoring ownership records becomes complicated and time-consuming, as outlined in the Land Administration Directive 2025.
Khimananda Acharya, spokesperson for the Department of Land Management and Archive, stated, “All the Land Revenue Offices that were burnt and destroyed during the protests are digitalised.” However, he added that records of service seekers who had not accessed any services after the offices became digital may not have been digitized. This situation can make collecting necessary evidence somewhat complicated.
Digitisation Efforts and Current Operations
The digitisation of land revenue offices began in 2018. After the government issued a notice urging landowners to verify their land ownership records, the Kalanki Land Revenue Office started the process on Sunday. When visited on Sunday afternoon, the office was crowded with people.
The building still carried the smell of smoke from the fire set by protesters on September 9. Repair work has just begun, and the ground and first floors, once bustling with activity, have been reduced to ruins. Currently, only the third and fourth floors are being worked on, with limited resources.
“We operated the office only for essential services on Sunday,” said Rabin Dhakal, the chief of the office. However, due to a server problem, the notice regarding service resumption was published only on Sunday morning, resulting in a large number of service seekers arriving on the very first day.
Service Limitations and Public Struggles
“We had opened the office on Sunday only to process new land mortgage registrations and the release of properties under existing mortgages,” Dhakal said. “However, other service seekers also showed up.”
The crowd doubled when the office was unable to operate for nearly two hours in the afternoon due to a power cut, increasing pressure on those waiting for services. “We have resumed work from only two floors, as three floors were damaged during the protests,” Dhakal told the Post. When the office operated at full capacity, it provided services through around 30 computers. Currently, there are about 15 computers, and only five of them were functional on Sunday.
Many service seekers are visiting the office to have their land records verified, as the office’s records were destroyed in the arson attack. However, verification of records and new registrations can only begin after the Tihar festival, which is around two weeks away. The office has requested the public not to rush just for record verification.
Personal Stories of Struggle
Despite Dhakal’s advice, some residents faced difficulties on the first day. Kirtipur resident Kuntala Devi Rai came to the office to register a land mortgage but found that her ownership document did not match the data in the office’s server, forcing her to run between various sections. Similarly, Santosh Neupane, who is set to return abroad after Tihar, faced complications. He had purchased a plot of land in Kirtipur and had already paid the full amount but was unable to complete the registration process due to the protests.
“I have already extended my leave and will have to return immediately after Tihar,” Neupane told the Post. “There is no certainty that the land transfer will be completed before Tihar.”
Neupane questioned the impact of the Gen Z movement, suggesting that instead of bringing stability to the country, it caused destruction. He wondered whether the new generation had actually managed to pave a better path.
Document Requirements and Public Complaints
In the notice issued by the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, the ministry directed that if a land record is verified in the office’s computer system, it should be authenticated by matching it with the service seeker’s documents. However, service seekers complain that the Land Revenue Office has been giving them unnecessary trouble by demanding irrelevant documents.
Seventy-one-year-old Ranganath Khanal, who helps service seekers with paperwork, said that the office was unnecessarily creating hassles. “While the ministry’s instructions are clear, the Land Revenue Office has been demanding documents not mentioned in the directive, causing inconvenience to the public,” Khanal complained.
However, the office chief Dhakal denies the allegations, claiming that the office has not been demanding excessive documents. “When the evidence provided by the service seeker matches the records in our system, we carry out tasks ranging from verifying land ownership to placing and releasing land mortgages,” he said.
Dhakal further explained that the Land Revenue Office is a highly sensitive institution, as even a minor error could result in the transfer of one person’s land to the wrong person. Therefore, he argued, the office must exercise extreme caution.
Budget Constraints and Ongoing Challenges
Dhakal also mentioned that the government had earlier required service seekers to submit 11 different documents to verify records or access services at the Land Revenue Office. However, following public complaints, the number of required documents has been reduced. Now, service seekers are only required to submit the original land ownership document, citizenship certificate, verification letter issued by the office, and proof of land tax payment.
Officials at the Kalanki Land Revenue Office said their work has also been hampered due to budget constraints. They explained that the office’s allocated budget has already been spent on repairs and maintenance, and they are now waiting for additional funds to be released. Although a few municipalities have provided computers and other equipment needed for operation, further support from the government is still awaited.