The Federation of Tamil Nadu Agriculturist Associations has urged the State Government to release white paper on the merits and demerits of The Tamil Nadu Board of Revenue Abolition Act, 1980 by which the posts of Village Munsif and Village Karnam were abolished and reappointed as Village Administrative Officers.

In a press release, its secretary S. Nallasamy said that the board was established by the British East India Company to administer the revenue and administration of each village and also provide suggestion to the government apart from hearing appealing cases. Stating that the board was serving as a blockage in implementing the decisions taken by the State Government, the then Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran abolished the board on December 5, 1980. “It has been 39 years since the board is abolished and it is time to study the merits and demerits of the decision,” the release added.

Mr. Nallasamy said that both Village Munsif (head of Panchayat court) and Village Karnam (assists Munsif in keeping register and record or proceedings) stayed in the village and were involved in monitoring the crops and maintaining records, collecting land tax and maintaining the register of birth and death certificates. Since there are no transfers for them, they feared of committing wrongdoings and performed to the fullest, he added.

Though there were a few practical problems, including a few officers turning as authoritarian, people were looking for a change in those days and welcomed the abolition move. Later, Village Administrative Officers were employed as full-time workers who were subject to frequent transfers. Though the law mandated that they should stay in the village where they were working, most of them were staying in cities and moved to their office only during working hours.

Mr. Nallasamy said that many were unaware of the happenings in the village and failed to provide service to the people. He said that the people received their certificates after allegedly paying money to the officers and the maintaining of village records had completely become defunct. “The VAOs association even stages protest against the District Collector and fulfil what they want,” the release claimed.

The release said that the people started to realise the mistake of abolition of the board and wanted a change in the system at the village level to get better service.