In a decisive move to curb corruption in land dealings, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued a stern directive for rigorous action against individuals involved in fraudulent land lease practices for monetary gains. Speaking at a high-level administrative meeting in Lucknow, the CM emphasized that no leniency will be shown to those exploiting the land patta system for personal profit.
The directive comes amid rising complaints about brokers and middlemen who demand hefty payments from poor farmers and landless individuals in exchange for securing land leases or pattas. These illegal practices have deprived genuine beneficiaries of their rightful access to government land, exacerbating rural distress.
Yogi Adityanath highlighted the state government’s commitment to transparent land allocation processes. ‘The patta system is meant to empower the underprivileged, not to line the pockets of corrupt officials and brokers,’ he asserted. He instructed district magistrates and revenue officials to launch immediate investigations into all reported cases and ensure swift legal proceedings.
Under the new orders, special teams will be formed to monitor land lease applications across the state. Any instance of cash-for-patta will attract severe penalties, including immediate termination of services for involved government employees and criminal charges against private players. The CM also called for digitization of the entire process to minimize human intervention and enhance transparency.
This crackdown is part of a broader governance reform agenda in UP, where the Yogi administration has previously targeted land mafia and illegal encroachments. Officials have been given a 15-day deadline to submit action-taken reports, with performance linked to their annual appraisals. The move is expected to restore faith in the system and benefit lakhs of eligible citizens waiting for land pattas.