What is Khasra (خرسہख़सरा) number?
Terms like these would come your way when you study land records in Pakistan &
India. This is because land records in Pakistan & India were first organised by the
Mughals, in order to levy taxes and generate revenue. Consequently, land records
widely carry terms of Persian and Arabic origins. While improvements have been
made in land record keeping since then, the terms are very much an integral part
of the revenue and legal system even today.
Explained below is Khasra خرسہ, a term you would often come across when you try
to access land records – online or offline. Also explained is how this term is
different from Khata number and Khatauni and how to find your land record using
the Khasra number.
Khasra number خرسہ نمبThe meaning مفہوم
As plot numbers are assigned to each piece of land in urban Pakistan, a similar
numeral identification is assigned to agricultural land in rural areas. Authorities
take the village map and assign a khasra number to each and every land parcel in
that particular village.
The Khasra number is among the many details that are maintained across Pakistan
states under records of rights, popularly known as Jamabandi or Fard. Apart from
Khasra number, RoR also has details about the owner, mortgages, leases, crop
details and cultivator’s details.
A Persian term, Khasra number is a plot or survey number given to a particular
piece of land in villages. In urban areas, land parcels are allotted plot numbers or
survey numbers, the equivalent of rural areas’ Khasra number. The land parcels
might have several owners.
Khasras provide every detail pertaining to all the fields and their areas,
measurement, details of owners and cultivators, type of crops and soil, etc. Khasra
is basically part of another document named Shajra, which carried the entire map
of a village.
“An account of all the geographical contents, a Khasra number also provides
details like the total area of the land, whether it is fertile, kind of crop cultivated
on the land, the number of trees planted here and the soil quality etc.
Using the Khasra number, one can get the entire ownership history and pattern
about the land, as well, which might go back up to 50 years.
Khasra number Importance اہمیت
Few years ago, a dozens of police personnel along with Bailiff of the court arrived
at a specific location at a Village in Punjab, Lahore to get a property vacated,
following a court order. They were, however, forced to leave the premise without
getting the task done, because of an error with regard to the Khasra number. This
instance indicates the importance of the Khasra number, an identity provided to
land parcels and plots in Pakistan.
What is Khata number? کھاتہ نمب
A Khata number, on the other hand, is an account number allotted to a family
which denotes the entire landholding of all the members. Also known as the
Khewat number, کھیوٹ نمبa Khata number provides you the details of owners
and their total landholding.
Example Muhammad Ali, Qasim Ali and Shakoor Ali are siblings who own land
parcels falling under Khasra number 20, 22 and 24 in their village. They will have
the same Khata or Khewat number.
Depending on the state you are looking for the land record, you will have to use
the Khata number or the Khatauni number or both, to access the documents.
What is Khewat number? کھیوٹ نمب
The Khewat number, also known as the khata number, is an account number given
to landowners who jointly own a land parcel.
Changes occur in the khewat number with changing ownership.
For Example
There are 5 khewats in a village. Gamma, Nathoo and Phatoo are joint owners in
khewat 3. Eventually, the trio decided to sell their land to Majja, who already
owns khewat number 2 in that village. After mutation, Majja's name would show
against khewat number 2 as well as 3 in the new jamabandi records.
What is Khatauni number? کھتون نمب
A type of account number, Khatauni provides information on the land-holding
pattern within a family. A legal document, khatauni provides the information
about a land, its khasra number, the number of people who own it, its total area,
etc. Khatauni also has the details of all the khasras owned by a land owner. In
other words, khatauni is the record of all the khasras owned by a family.
What information will Khata کھاتہ, Khasra خرسہand Khatauni کھتونnumbers
provide
*How much agricultural land a village has.
*How many people own a particular land parcel in the village.
*If this particular land parcel is being cultivated by the owners.
*If not, how many people are cultivating this particular land parcel.
*How much landholding a family has in the village.
*What is the share of these landholders in the land.
What is?
Khata Number کھاتہ نمبOwner’s details along with his entire landholding.
Khasra Number خرسہ نمبPlot details.
Khatauni number کھتون نمبDetails of entire hand-holding of a family.
How to find Khasra number/Khata number/Khatauni number?
Since most states have digitised their land records, users can go to the official
revenue department website of the state concerned and find out the details.
Alternatively, the tehsildar’s office can give you a copy of these details.
