Patwari

A Patwari (also known as Lekhpal in Uttar Pradesh, Talati in Gujarat, or Village Accountant in other states) is a grassroots-level government revenue official in rural India responsible for maintaining and updating land records, crop surveys, tenancy records, and revenue maps for a specific cluster of villages — serving as the primary custodian of agricultural and rural land ownership documentation at the local level. The Patwari maintains the Khasra (a field measurement record of all plots and their ownership), the Khatauni or Jamabandi (a record of rights showing ownership, cultivation, and tenancy details), and the Village Map (Shajra) that demarcates individual field boundaries. For property buyers, sellers, and investors in rural and semi-urban India, the Patwari's records are the foundational reference for establishing clear land title, verifying ownership history, identifying encumbrances, and confirming that land is free from disputes or government acquisition notices. Before purchasing agricultural land in India, consulting the Patwari and obtaining certified extracts of Khasra and Khatauni records is essential due diligence — verifying that the seller's name matches the land records, that there are no tenancy rights claimed by cultivators, and that the land classification (agricultural, non-agricultural, forest, etc.) is consistent with the intended use. Digital land records initiatives under the DILRMP (Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme) are progressively making Patwari records accessible online across Indian states, reducing dependence on physical visits and improving land transaction transparency.