Concerns arise over weak Dharani architecture allowing potential access to land data by private persons
As technical glitches continue to impact online land transactions of the Bhu Bharati portal, apprehensions are being expressed over the possibilities of private persons accessing
As technical glitches continue to impact online land transactions of the Bhu Bharati portal, apprehensions are being expressed over the possibilities of private persons accessing the entire land data stored in the previous Dharani portal. Bhu Bharati portal replaced Dharani in April, 2025. The Informatics Centre (NIC) has been handed over the maintenance of the Bhu Bharati portal since the Congress Government took over the reins in Telangana. The NIC rectified the system to some extent clearing bugs and other instruments that could give access to the data, but it has not been complete as the Bhu Bharati still functions on the old architecture (of Dharani) which reportedly has several weaknesses.
Scope for change in land extent and other details “NIC has rectified the lapses to some extent. But the old system has weaknesses that give scope for change in land classification, extent and other details,” a member of the committee constituted by the Congress Government to study the functioning of Dharani portal said. A provision ensuring that details of the land cannot be changed without the consent of the owner has no doubt been incorporated in the previous (Dharani) Act. “But what if vested interests gain access through the biometric credentials of the lower level officers manning the portal?” he asked.
This could be seen from frequent complaints over changes in the land information like change in the owner’s name without his/her consent and absence of some survey number. A team comprising software professionals, intelligence officers and others examined the system and made a power point presentation detailing the security related weaknesses. The team is reported to have recommended replacement of the system architecture with a tamper proof one. However, no steps have been taken in that direction as could be seen from the recurrence of the problems. Sources said the transfer of the system to the government had ensured that there is no scope for any changes in the master data.
But, the system can become tamper proof only when the design faults are rectified, the team member told The Hindu. Meanwhile, senior officials said the Kerala Security Audit and Assurance Centre, which is entrusted with the forensic audit of Dharani transactions, was yet to give its report. “Discussion were held, some findings are shared orally. No report received yet,” was how an official responded when asked about the details of the audit.
The BriefWire