Mutation records who is entered for revenue administration; title determines legal ownership. A mutation entry, jamabandi or tax receipt can support possession and revenue history, but it does not by itself create or extinguish ownership. When the underlying deed, inheritance or partition is disputed, the title question may require civil adjudication even if a revenue entry is corrected.
The distinction
Mutation (dakhil kharij) and jamabandi are revenue records showing who pays land tax; title is legal ownership established by registered documents and possession.
Legal framework and key principles
The applicable section, forum and evidentiary record must be checked together. These are the main points to organise before a specific opinion is formed.
Mutation follows an asserted transfer or succession; it is not the source of title.
Revenue authorities may correct entries within their jurisdiction but cannot always decide complex title questions.
Registered deeds, succession law, court decrees and other substantive sources determine rights.
Practical steps
- Identify the underlying event: sale, gift, inheritance, partition or decree
- Collect the source document and prior revenue chain
- Compare names, area, plot and khata across records
- Use the revenue process for entry correction where appropriate
- Seek civil declaration when ownership itself is contested
Documents to collect
Start with readable copies and a short index. Preserve originals, digital metadata and proof of service where relevant.
What usually affects the decision
Forum and local context
Depending on the dispute, the matter may require a civil suit, temporary injunction, revenue proceeding, registration-related step, criminal complaint for a distinct offence, or a Bihar RERA complaint. The Patna High Court is not a substitute for fact-heavy civil adjudication merely because a public record is involved.
Common mistakes to avoid
Frequently asked questions
Does mutation prove ownership in Bihar?
No. It is a relevant revenue entry but not conclusive title. Ownership must be traced to the legal source such as a valid deed, succession, partition or decree. A mutation dispute may expose a deeper title dispute that requires a different forum.
Can mutation be corrected without a civil suit?
A revenue correction may be possible where the underlying right is clear and the authority has jurisdiction. If competing parties dispute the deed, inheritance, partition or ownership, a civil declaration may be necessary before the revenue record can safely follow.
What is jamabandi?
Jamabandi is a revenue record associated with the holding and revenue administration. It can be important for history and possession, but its evidentiary value must be read with the title documents, survey record, orders and actual facts.
Does mutation prove ownership?
No. Mutation is a revenue record for tax purposes and supports but does not by itself establish title.
Official sources and further reading
Use the current official text, portal or order for the exact procedural position. External links open the relevant primary source.
Official statute governing registration of documents affecting immovable property.
Official statute governing transfers, mortgages, leases and related property rights.
Official statute for specific performance, cancellation, declarations and injunctions.
Related Property & Title guides
Information, not a prediction: This page provides general legal information for Patna and Bihar. Forum, limitation, procedure and relief depend on the actual record. No result is guaranteed, and an advocate-client relationship begins only after formal engagement.