Federal Constitutional Court Rules on Alteration of Revenue Entries
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Sep, 2026) The Federal Constitutional Court has held that long-standing revenue entries cannot be altered through summary correction proceedings when the proposed change involves disputed questions of title, possession, or proprietary rights.
Key Points:
- The court ruled in favor of an appeal filed by Muhammad Ashraf Rana and others against a Lahore High Court judgment.
- It observed that while Section 166 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1967 allows corrections of clerical errors, it does not authorize reopening settled proceedings or determining disputed rights under the guise of correcting revenue records.
- The disputed entry in question had originated during settlement operations in 1971-72 and remained unchanged for nearly 44 years. The court emphasized the need for a proper inquiry into whether the alteration was unauthorized and its legal consequences.
- Revenue entries, while carrying a rebuttable presumption of correctness, do not confer title outright. Disputed claims of title or possession require adjudication by a competent civil court.
- The FCC restored a previous order of the Punjab Revenue Board, setting aside the Lahore High Court judgment.
Clarification:
The court emphasized that its ruling did not confer title upon any party or legitimize encroachment. Substantive questions regarding title, possession, and rights in the disputed land remain to be determined by the appropriate forum according to law.