Exclusive Interview
From Public Grievance Hearings to Land Dispute Resolution – A Candid Conversation with CO Ujjwal Soren
Ranchi:— Ormanjhi Circle Officer (CO) Ujjwal Soren spoke candidly with media representatives about public grievance hearings and administrative services. He said that resolving people’s issues is his top priority, and being available 24/7 to uphold public trust is the foremost responsibility of every administrative officer.
Q1. Public grievance hearings are organized every Tuesday, but even beyond that, how challenging is it to remain available round the clock?
Answer (CO Ujjwal Soren):
It is the duty of every administrative officer. Across Jharkhand, officers remain dedicated to serving the public 24 hours a day. Problems are never small—sometimes they are complex and require long-term efforts. Many issues cannot be resolved in a single action. Unless we work continuously on them, settlement is not possible. That is why all of us officers work tirelessly around the clock.
Q2. When large crowds from both sides gather over disputes, how do you handle such situations?
Answer (CO Ujjwal Soren):
I remain completely impartial. For instance, in the case of Parsa Toli, both the Ganjhu family and the Karmali family claimed to belong to the same lineage, but some evidence was not presented. Therefore, one week’s time was granted so that all aspects can be examined before reaching a final decision.
Q3. Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri always prioritizes grievance hearings and even makes surprise inspections. How do you view this?
Answer (CO Ujjwal Soren):
This is a very positive initiative by the Deputy Commissioner. As a result, hundreds of cases have already been resolved. In my circle, 70–80 acres of land were not registered online. We completed the online process, and poor families benefited from it. Now, receipts are also being generated. The Deputy Commissioner has directed that up to 10 decimals of land be verified and mutation done promptly. The correction of land records and online registration is progressing rapidly. This will help in resolving land disputes not only in my circle but across the entire state.
Q4. What message would you like to give to villagers who are unable to attend the grievance hearings?
Answer (CO Ujjwal Soren):
We work with complete impartiality. My message is that every individual should bring their problems through proper channels and must submit an application. Keep the receipt of the application. Under the Right to Service Act, it is the administration’s responsibility to resolve issues within 30 days. We are consistently working in that direction.
Q5. Ormanjhi block has always been peaceful. Since you took charge, no sensitive situation has been reported. What is your view on this?
Answer (CO Ujjwal Soren):
I always work with a positive outlook. My effort is to ensure that land-related issues are resolved fairly. I keep my doors open so that anyone can approach me directly with their grievances. Even with limited staff, we investigate and resolve problems with the available resources. My constant endeavor is to keep the people of Ormanjhi satisfied and content.
