Punjab NRI Land Guide: Jamabandi, Fard, NRI Police Stations
A practical Punjab land guide for NRIs: PLRS, jamabandi and fard, khasra and killa, kanal and marla, intkal, girdawari, NRI police stations and next steps.
By the PlotPehra Land DeskUpdated 5 min read
Punjab land, explained
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Punjab has one of the largest diasporas in India, and many families abroad still hold ancestral land in the villages they came from. The good news is that Punjab also has some of the most NRI-aware systems in the country. This guide explains the records, the words, and the people you can turn to, in plain language.
What are Punjab land records called?
Punjab's record of rights is the jamabandi, and a certified copy of your entry in it is called a fard. Together they show who holds each parcel of land in a village, their share, the area and the type of land.
The jamabandi is prepared by the village patwari and revised periodically, with changes such as sales and inheritances added in between through mutation. You can view it online through the Punjab Land Records Society portal, known as PLRS, at jamabandi.punjab.gov.in.
Remember that the jamabandi is a revenue record. It shows who is recorded, but your registered deed or inheritance papers are what prove title. For a state-by-state comparison, see our guide to khasra, khatauni and jamabandi.
Record finder
What is your land record called?
- Your land record is called
- Jamabandi (certified copy: Fard)
- Your plot number is the
- Khasra / killa number, under a khewat and khatauni number
- Check it online at
- PLRS — Punjab Land Records Society
- Ownership changes are called
- Intkal
- Land is measured in
- Kanal, marla, bigha, killa (about one acre), acre
What do khasra, killa, kanal and marla mean?
These four words describe where your land is and how big it is. Once you know them, a fard becomes easy to read.
| Term | What it means | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Khasra | The parcel number on the village map | Every jamabandi and fard |
| Killa | A field number within a larger square block, roughly an acre each in consolidated villages | Written with the khasra, often as square and killa numbers |
| Kanal | A unit of area; 8 kanals make an acre | Area column of the fard |
| Marla | A smaller unit of area; 20 marlas make a kanal | Area column of the fard |
| Jamabandi | The record of rights for the village | PLRS portal, patwari's register |
| Fard | Certified copy of your jamabandi entry | Fard kendra or authorised online copy |
| Intkal | Mutation, updating the record after a sale or death | Mutation register, PLRS |
| Girdawari | Crop inspection record by the patwari | Girdawari register |
Many Punjab villages went through land consolidation decades ago, which is why land is often described by square and killa numbers rather than old khasra numbers alone.
Why do intkal and girdawari matter?
Intkal and girdawari are the two entries most likely to cause trouble if nobody checks them. One shows who holds the land; the other shows who is cultivating it.
Intkal (mutation)
Intkal is Punjab's word for mutation. When a parent or grandparent passes away, or land is sold, an intkal updates the jamabandi. It is not proof of title by itself, but a stale record makes everything harder, from selling to defending against a claim. Our mutation guide explains the process.
Girdawari (crop inspection)
The girdawari is the patwari's record of which crop was grown on each field and by whom, typically recorded each crop season. If someone else is shown as cultivating your land season after season, that entry is worth questioning early with the help of a local property lawyer.
Who can help Punjab NRIs?
Punjab has dedicated government channels for NRIs, which many families do not know about. Knowing who does what saves time when something goes wrong.
- Department of NRI Affairs, Punjab. The state department focused on issues faced by Punjabis abroad, including property concerns.
- Punjab State Commission for NRIs. A statutory body that can hear grievances from NRIs, including property-related complaints.
- NRI police stations. Dedicated police stations under the ADGP (NRI Wing) that handle complaints from NRIs, including disputes over property.
Contact details and procedures change, so use official Punjab government and Punjab Police channels for current information. For a genuine property dispute, these channels work best alongside a local property lawyer, not instead of one.
What patterns do Punjab NRI families often see?
Most problems start quietly, when land or a house sits unchecked for a long time. Across Punjab, and often discussed in the Doaba region around Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr, many families have a kothi that stays empty for years while the family lives abroad.
Common patterns include:
- Cultivation drift. A neighbour or relative farms your field "for now", and over years it starts to feel like theirs.
- Boundary creep. A mud bund or fence line moves a few feet each season.
- Stale records. The jamabandi still shows a grandparent's name because no intkal was filed.
- Broad power of attorney. A general power of attorney given years ago is used in ways nobody intended. See our guide to power of attorney risks.
None of these is a reason to panic. They are reasons to check regularly. If you do spot something, our 30-day encroachment plan walks you through calm next steps.
What practical steps should you take this year?
A few simple habits cover most of the risk. You can do nearly all of them from Canada, the UK or anywhere else.
Find your numbers
Note your district, tehsil, village, khasra and killa numbers, and khewat or account number, from an old fard or deed.Check PLRS
Open the jamabandi on PLRS and confirm the names and shares match what you expect.Fix stale records
If a late parent is still recorded, talk to a lawyer or trusted relative about filing an intkal.Get a fresh fard
Keep a recent certified copy in your files. It is the first thing any lawyer or officer will ask for.Watch the ground
Set up regular checks so you know what is happening on the land, not just on paper.
How can PlotPehra help with Punjab land?
PlotPehra watches your Punjab land on two fronts and tells you, in English and Punjabi, if anything changes. We only need your khasra or killa number with the village and district, or a pin on a map. No power of attorney, ever.
On paper, we check your jamabandi on PLRS every week and flag a new intkal, a new owner or a changed share or area. On the ground, we look at every clear satellite image for crops, bare soil and new construction. Monsoon clouds can hide the fields for a few weeks; when they do, your monthly update says so, and the jamabandi checks carry on. A real person reviews every change before it reaches you by email and WhatsApp.
ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਜ਼ਮੀਨ, ਸਾਡਾ ਪਹਿਰਾ। (Your land, our watch.)
For more Punjab-specific details, see our Punjab state guide. If you live in Canada or the UK, our guides for NRIs in Canada and NRIs in the UK cover time zones and paperwork tips.
The short version
Know your numbers, check your jamabandi on PLRS, keep a fresh fard, and file intkal when the family changes. Use Punjab's NRI channels and a local property lawyer if something goes wrong.
And keep an eye on the land itself and on the jamabandi, so small changes never get the chance to become big ones.
Questions people ask
Through the Punjab Land Records Society portal, PLRS, at jamabandi.punjab.gov.in. Choose your district, tehsil and village, then search by owner name or khasra number.
The jamabandi is the record of rights itself. A fard is a certified copy of your entry in it, which is what banks, courts and registrars usually ask for.
Punjab has NRI police stations under the ADGP NRI Wing that handle complaints from NRIs. Procedures change, so check the current process on official Punjab Police or NRI Affairs channels, and talk to a local lawyer for property disputes.
In Punjab, 8 kanals make one acre, and 20 marlas make one kanal. Local usage can vary slightly, so confirm with your fard.
No. We only need your khasra or killa number with village and district, or a pin on the map. No power of attorney, ever.
About the PlotPehra Land Desk
Our team reviews satellite and land-record changes on NRI-owned land across India, and writes these guides from the questions families ask us. We’re not lawyers — for legal decisions, always speak to a local property lawyer. More about us · How we research our guides.
