Punjab restores district cadre for patwaris

The Revenue Patwar Union Punjab has thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the state government for restoring the district cadre for patwaris and initiating the recruitment process for 1,001 new appointments.

Addressing a press conference at Chandigarh Press Club, union president Balraj Singh Aujla said the government had replaced the traditional district cadre with a state cadre in 2024. The union subsequently took up the matter with the Chief Minister through senior officials, highlighting difficulties related to fresh recruitment, promotions and legal proceedings following the change.

Aujla said the Chief Minister considered the union’s concerns and agreed to restore the district cadre. The government subsequently cancelled the state cadre arrangement, reinstated the district cadre and issued a gazette notification.

The union also welcomed the government’s decision to initiate recruitment for 1,001 patwaris, saying the move would help address staffing requirements in the department.

During the press conference, the union raised two key demands before the Chief Minister. It sought an immediate increase in the salaries of patwaris appointed after July 17, 2020, and a technical pay scale in view of the specialised and complex nature of their responsibilities in the Revenue Department.

The union said patwari work involved technical responsibilities that warranted an appropriate pay structure.

Several office-bearers attended the press conference, including All India representative Sumandeep Singh Bhullar, Punjab representatives Gurwinder Singh (Ropar) and Pradeep Sharma (Mansa), Mohali district president Saurav Shukla, Sangrur district president Navdeep Singh Sarao, Mansa district president Gunshil Singla and Patiala district president Sukhjinder Singh Khangura.