A buyer in Hooghly district was checking an old family deed before finalising a land purchase. The deed showed an RS Dag number, but when he searched Banglarbhumi using that number directly, nothing matched the current record. He later learned the old plot had been split into two new ones during Land Reforms, and the owner’s name on the RS record was slightly different from the LR record — a mismatch that could have stalled his bank loan if left unresolved.
If you’re dealing with old land documents in West Bengal and the numbers or names don’t seem to line up with current records, here’s what’s actually going on.
💡 Quick Answer (দ্রুত উত্তর): Sabek Dag (সাবেক দাগ) = the old plot number, from RS (Revisional Survey) records Hal Dag (হাল দাগ) = the current plot number, from LR (Land Reforms) records Convert: banglarbhumi.gov.in → Citizen Services → RS-LR Information → select Sabek Dag → Hal Dag (or reverse) If names mismatch: This is treated as a serious title defect — must be corrected at BL&LRO before any sale or mutation
Sabek Dag and Hal Dag — What They Mean
In West Bengal’s land record system, a plot’s identifying number has changed over time as the state’s survey system evolved:
- Sabek Dag (সাবেক দাগ) — the “old” or “former” plot number, generally tied to RS (Revisional Survey) records
- Hal Dag (হাল দাগ) — the “current” plot number, generally tied to LR (Land Reforms) records, which reflect changes made after Operation Barga and land ceiling redistribution
If your family’s old deed or an inherited document shows only the RS plot number, but Banglarbhumi’s current search results are based on LR numbers, you’ll need to convert between the two to find your actual current record.
Sabek Dag to Hal Dag Conversion — Step by Step
Step 1: Log in to banglarbhumi.gov.in
Step 2: Go to Citizen Services → RS-LR Information
Step 3: Select your District, Block, and Mouza
Step 4: Choose the direction you need:
- Sabek Dag → Hal Dag (old RS number → current LR number)
- Hal Dag → Sabek Dag (current LR number → old RS number)
Step 5: Enter the plot number you have
Step 6: Complete the captcha and click View
Step 7: The corresponding plot number (or numbers — see below) will display on screen
For a court-grade certified copy correlating the two, use Citizen Services → Service Delivery → RoR Request, pay online, and note your GRN. Certified RS Khatian copies typically cost around ₹20 (plus statutory/online charges) and are delivered within 7-15 working days.
⭐ Why RS and LR Khatian Names Don’t Always Match
This is one of the most consequential issues in West Bengal land records — and the single most common reason mutation files get stuck:
Sometimes, the RS Khatian shows one owner’s name, while the LR Khatian shows a different name. When this happens:
- Mutation at the BL&LRO office gets stuck
- Banks routinely reject loan applications when they see this discrepancy
- Buyers who only check the recent LR extract, without pulling the RS record, can carry a hidden risk that surfaces years later
⚡ This kind of mismatch should be treated as a serious title defect, not a minor clerical issue. Never rely on the LR Khatian alone for a major transaction — always cross-check the RS Khatian too.
One Old Plot, Multiple New Plots — A Common Surprise
Something that catches many people off guard: a single old RS plot number can correspond to more than one current LR plot number.
Example: RS Plot 742 might now correspond to LR Plots 1089 and 1090 — because the original plot was subdivided during the Land Reforms process.
⚡ If you’re verifying an inherited or old-deed property, don’t assume a 1-to-1 match between old and new plot numbers. Always run the RS-LR Information search to see the complete, current picture before proceeding with any purchase or mutation.
How to Fix an RS-LR Mismatch
If you discover your RS and LR Khatian show different names:
Step 1: Pull both records from Banglarbhumi — RS Khatian and LR Khatian for the same plot
Step 2: Trace the missing link deed — the registered document that should connect the old owner’s name to the current one (sale, inheritance, gift, etc.)
Step 3: File a correction application at the BL&LRO office, submitting the link deed(s) and, if available, the older CS Khatian for additional support
Step 4: For high-value or disputed cases, most lawyers also recommend filing a parallel civil suit for declaration of title — this gives the correction stronger legal backing
Fixing this before you sign any sale agreement is far easier than discovering it after a bank has already rejected your loan file.
The Full Chain — CS, RS, and LR Together
West Bengal is the only state that maintains a full three-layer historical record system on a single portal:
| Layer | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CS (Cadastral Survey) | British era (earliest) | The historical baseline — still referenced for ancestral claims and boundary disputes |
| RS (Revisional Survey) | Post-independence | Updated ownership records after the CS baseline |
| LR (Land Reforms) | After Operation Barga & ceiling laws | The most current layer, reflecting sharecropper rights and redistributed land |
For ancestral or partitioned property, banks often specifically ask for the CS Khatian as well — producing it upfront, alongside RS and LR, can save weeks of back-and-forth verification.
Common Problems + Fix
Problem 1: Sabek Dag entered but “no matching record found”
Fix: Double-check the Mouza selection — the same Dag number can exist across different Mouzas. Confirm the exact Mouza from your old deed before searching.
Fix: This usually means the RS update was skipped during the original survey, or a link deed is missing from the chain. File a correction case at the BL&LRO with all available link deeds.
Problem 3: Old CS to RS conversion was never completed for a plot
Fix: This requires a separate correction case at the BL&LRO — raise it before any purchase, not after signing.
Problem 4: Multiple LR plots showing for one old RS number, unsure which is relevant
Fix: Cross-check area and boundary details against your deed, or visit the BL&LRO office with your documents for manual clarification.
FAQ
What is Sabek Dag? The old plot number from RS (Revisional Survey) records — “সাবেক” means “former” in Bengali.
What is Hal Dag? The current plot number from LR (Land Reforms) records — “হাল” means “current.”
How do I convert Sabek Dag to Hal Dag? Log in to banglarbhumi.gov.in → Citizen Services → RS-LR Information → select the conversion direction → enter your Mouza and plot number.
My RS and LR Khatians show different owner names — what does this mean? Treat it as a serious title defect. File a correction application at the BL&LRO with all link deeds, and consider a parallel civil suit for declaration of title for high-value cases.
Can one old RS plot become multiple new LR plots? Yes — this is common when a plot was subdivided during Land Reforms. Always check the RS-LR Information tool rather than assuming a direct match.
Official Links
| Service | Link |
|---|---|
| Banglarbhumi (RS-LR Information) | banglarbhumi.gov.in |
| GRIPS (Fee Payment) | wbifms.gov.in/GRIPS |
The Hooghly buyer got the mismatch corrected at the BL&LRO office before signing anything — his bank loan went through without any issues once the records were aligned.
Related Articles:
- Banglarbhumi 2026 — Khatian, Mutation & Land Records
- Warish Mutation West Bengal 2026
- GRIPS Portal West Bengal 2026
This information is based on the banglarbhumi.gov.in official portal and publicly available guidance on West Bengal’s RS-LR land record system. This is not legal advice — for title verification and correction cases, consult a lawyer.