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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-title=(Land Records Office Won't Give Survey Map Copy? Fix It)&metatag-description=(The land records office won't give you the village or survey map copy? File a certified-copy application, then use RTI to get the cadastral map. Explainer.)&metatag-keywords=(Property and RERA)&metatag-robots=(index,follow)&metatag-og:title=(Land Records Office Won't Give Survey Map Copy? Fix It)&metatag-og:description=(The land records office won't give you the village or survey map copy? File a certified-copy application, then use RTI to get the cadastral map. Explainer.)&metatag-og:type=(article)}}
+====== Property Survey Map or Village Map Copy Not Provided by the Land Records Office? Here Is How to Get It ======
+{{ :social:auto:practical-guides-property-survey-map-village-map-copy-not-provided.png?direct&1200 |Property Survey Map or Village Map Copy Not Provided by the Land Records Office? Here Is How to Get It — RTI Wiki}}
+**If the land-records or survey office will not give you a copy of the village map, the survey or cadastral map, or the FMB or tippan sheet for your plot, you have a clear path. Keep your survey number and village details ready, file a certified-copy application through the state land-records or survey portal or at the counter, and — if the counter route stalls — file an RTI with the survey or land-records department, which is a public authority. This guide walks you through each step and what each map is.**
+**Reviewed on:** 2026-05-29.
+<WRAP center round info 95%>
+**Quick Reply:**
+The village map, survey or cadastral map, and the FMB or tippan sheet are public records held by the revenue, land-records, or survey-and-settlement department. You are entitled to a copy. **First step: write down your survey number, sub-division, village, taluk or tehsil, and district, and file a certified-copy application — online on your state land-records or survey portal where one exists, or at the counter — and pay the prescribed fee.** Get a dated acknowledgement. If the office refuses, delays, or says the map is "under re-survey" or "not digitised", file an RTI with the survey or land-records department asking for a certified copy of the available map and the status of your earlier application. The department is a public authority, so RTI is a strong and reliable fallback. Map names vary by state — Bhu-Naksha, FMB, tippan, naksha, akarbandh — so describe the plot by survey number and village rather than by a specific form name.
+</WRAP>
+===== Who this guide is for =====
+This guide is for anyone who needs an official copy of a land map and is being turned away by the office, including people who:
+  * Asked at the land-records, revenue, or survey office for the village map or the survey or cadastral map and were refused or kept waiting, or
+  * Need the FMB, tippan, naksha, or akarbandh sheet for a single survey number to check boundaries before a sale, partition, or fencing, or
+  * Were told the map is "not available", "under re-survey", or "not yet digitised", with no copy and no written reason given.
+It is useful if you need the map for a boundary dispute, a sale or gift deed, a partition among family, a loan, or simply to confirm that the record matches what is on the ground.
+==== Who this guide is NOT for ====
+This guide does not decide a boundary dispute or title for you, and it does not measure your land. If a neighbour has encroached, or your boundary on the ground differs from the map, you may need a fresh survey (often called re-survey, durust, or pot-hissa) and possibly a civil court. This guide also does not cover mutation or name-correction in the record of rights — for that see our guides on the mutation and sale-deed correction routes linked below. Finally, where the stakes are high, such as a contested title or a pending suit, consult a qualified advocate before acting on a map alone.
+===== What you can do this weekend =====
+==== Friday evening ====
+Gather your plot details on one sheet of paper. Write the survey number, the block and sub-division or hissa number, the village name, the taluk or tehsil, and the district. If you have a sale deed, a record-of-rights extract (the 7/12, RTC, patta, khatauni, or chitta depending on your state), or a tax receipt, note the survey number exactly as it appears there. Then search online for your state's official land-records or survey portal and check whether it has a map viewer. Note the portal name and the exact menu where maps appear.
+==== Saturday ====
+Try the online route first. On your state land-records or survey portal, enter the district, taluk, village, and survey number and see whether a cadastral map is shown. If you can view or download it, save it — but remember a portal download is usually a viewing copy, not a certified copy. If the portal offers an online certified-copy request, start that and note the application or reference number. If there is no portal map, or you need a certified copy, get ready to visit the office on the next working day with your plot details and ID.
+==== Sunday ====
+Prepare your counter application using the template below. Write the survey number, village, and taluk clearly, and state exactly which map you want — the village map, the survey or cadastral map, the FMB or tippan sheet, or all of these. Make a clean copy of your ID and any document that shows your interest in the land. Keep two copies of the application so the office can stamp one and return it to you as your dated acknowledgement. Plan to reach the office early on Monday or Tuesday, because counters that issue map copies often run for limited hours.
+===== Documents and details checklist =====
+^ Document / Detail ^ Why you need it ^ Where to get it ^
+| Survey number and sub-division (hissa) number | The single most important detail; the office locates the map by this number | Your sale deed, record-of-rights extract, or earlier map |
+| Village, taluk or tehsil, and district name | Maps are filed village-wise; the same survey number repeats across villages | Your land documents or local revenue office |
+| Record-of-rights extract (7/12, RTC, patta, khatauni, chitta, etc.) | Confirms the survey number and shows your interest in the land | State land-records portal or village accountant / revenue office |
+| Proof of identity (Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN, etc.) | Required to file the certified-copy application and to receive the copy | Your own records |
+| Sale deed or document showing interest in the land (if asked) | Some offices ask why you need the map; this answers it | Your registration papers or sub-registrar office |
+| Prescribed fee for a certified map copy | The copy is issued against the official fee; amount varies by state and sheet | State land-records or survey portal, or the counter |
+| Dated, stamped acknowledgement of your application | Proves you applied and starts the clock for follow-up or RTI | Insist the counter stamp your duplicate copy |
+| Any written refusal or "not available" note from the office | Useful evidence if you escalate or file an RTI | Ask the office to record the reason in writing |
+===== Step-by-step action plan =====
+==== Step 1 — Pin down the survey number and village ====
+Before you approach any office, fix the exact survey number, sub-division, village, taluk, and district. The same survey number can exist in many villages, so the village name is essential. Take the number from your record-of-rights extract or sale deed, not from memory. If the number was changed in a re-survey, note both the old and new numbers. Getting this right is what most often decides whether you receive the correct map or a wrong sheet.
+==== Step 2 — Try the state land-records or survey portal ====
+Most states run an official land-records or survey portal with a cadastral map viewer. The viewer carries different names in different states, such as Bhu-Naksha and similar tools. Enter the district, taluk, village, and survey number and see whether the map appears. If it does, save the view. Treat a portal download as a viewing copy unless the portal clearly issues a certified copy. If the portal supports an online certified-copy or "apply for map" request, use it and keep the reference number.
+==== Step 3 — File the certified-copy application at the office ====
+For a certified copy, apply to the survey or land-records office that holds the map — usually the taluk or tehsil land-records office, the District Survey or Settlement office, or the Sub-Divisional office, depending on your state. Submit a written application stating the survey number, village, and the map you want, attach your ID, and pay the prescribed fee. Insist on a dated, stamped acknowledgement on your duplicate copy. This is the normal first route, and many offices will issue the map within their stated timeline once the fee is paid.
+==== Step 4 — Follow up in writing if the copy does not arrive ====
+If the office misses its own timeline, follow up in writing, quoting your application or reference number and the date. Ask for the current status and the expected date of issue. If the office says the map is under re-survey or not digitised, ask them to record that reason in writing and to certify the old manual map or FMB sheet instead. A written follow-up creates a paper trail you will need if you escalate.
+==== Step 5 — Escalate to the senior survey or revenue officer ====
+If the counter does not act, escalate to the head of office — the District Survey Officer, the Superintendent of Land Records, the Tehsildar, or the Sub-Divisional Officer, as your state structures it. Submit your earlier application, the acknowledgement, and your written follow-up. For Central or some State public-service-delivery channels, the state grievance portal or, for Central authorities, [[/cpgrams-rti|CPGRAMS]] can add pressure. A senior officer can direct the section to issue the certified map.
+==== Step 6 — File an RTI as the reliable fallback ====
+If the certified-copy route stalls, file an RTI with the survey or land-records department, which is a public authority under the RTI Act. Ask for a certified copy of the village map, the survey or cadastral map, and the FMB or tippan sheet for your survey number, and ask why your earlier application was not processed and on what date. RTI forces a written, time-bound reply and often unblocks the file. See our guide on [[/file-rti-online-india|how to file an RTI online in India]] for the step-by-step process.
+===== Escalation ladder =====
+^ Level ^ Who / Where ^ How to reach ^ When to use ^ Expected outcome ^
+| 1 | State land-records or survey portal | Online map viewer / online certified-copy request; save the reference number | First — to view the map and start an online request where available | Viewing copy on screen; online application logged if supported |
+| 2 | Taluk / tehsil land-records or survey counter | In person; written certified-copy application with fee; get a stamped acknowledgement | For a certified copy, or if the portal has no map | Certified map issued within the office's stated timeline |
+| 3 | District Survey / Settlement office | Written application or follow-up; attach earlier acknowledgement | If the taluk counter cannot locate or issue the map | Map traced from district records or FMB; copy issued |
+| 4 | Superintendent of Land Records / Tehsildar / SDO | Written escalation citing application number and delay | If the counter delays beyond its timeline or refuses | Senior officer directs the section to issue the map |
+| 5 | State grievance portal / CPGRAMS (Central authorities) | [[https://pgportal.gov.in|pgportal.gov.in]] or your state grievance portal; attach documents | If the department stays unresponsive | Complaint monitored; pressure on the office to respond |
+| 6 | RTI to survey / land-records department (public authority) | [[https://rtionline.gov.in|rtionline.gov.in]] for Central bodies, or the State RTI portal / PIO; ask for a certified map copy | When the certified-copy route stalls; reliable fallback | Written, time-bound reply; certified copy of the available map |
+===== Copy-paste application template =====
+Replace the text in square brackets with your own details before sending. Use this for the counter certified-copy application; adapt the closing line for an RTI.
+To,
+The [Tehsildar / District Survey Officer / Superintendent of Land Records],
+[Name of land-records / survey office],
+[Taluk / Tehsil], [District], [State]
+Subject: Application for a certified copy of the village map / survey (cadastral) map / FMB-tippan sheet — Survey No. [your survey number], Village [village name]
+Dear Sir / Madam,
+I request a certified copy of the following land map record for my plot:
+- Survey number: [survey number] (sub-division / hissa: [number, if any])
+- Village: [village name]
+- Taluk / Tehsil: [taluk]
+- District: [district]
+I require a certified copy of:
+. The village map showing the above survey number, and
+. The survey / cadastral map for the survey number, and
+. The Field Measurement Book (FMB) / tippan / naksha sheet for the survey number.
+I am [the owner / a co-owner / a person interested in this land], and a copy of my identity proof [and the relevant record-of-rights extract / sale deed] is enclosed. I am ready to pay the prescribed fee for the certified copy.
+Please issue the certified copy within your stated timeline, and provide a dated acknowledgement of this application. If the map is under re-survey or not yet digitised, please record this reason in writing and advise whether the existing manual map or FMB sheet can be certified instead.
+Yours sincerely,
+[Your full name]
+[Your mobile number and email address]
+[Date]
+Enclosures:
+. Copy of identity proof
+. Copy of record-of-rights extract / sale deed (if available)
+. Fee payment receipt / details
+===== When RTI can help =====
+The RTI Act, 2005 applies to public authorities. The revenue department, the land-records department, and the survey-and-settlement department are public authorities. Village maps, survey or cadastral maps, and FMB or tippan sheets are records held by these authorities. This means you can file an RTI application with the department's Public Information Officer to:
+  * Obtain a certified copy of the village map, the survey or cadastral map, and the FMB or tippan sheet for your survey number and village.
+  * Ask why the certified-copy application you filed at the counter was not processed, who is handling it, and on what date it will be issued.
+  * Find out the current status of any re-survey or digitisation affecting your survey number.
+  * Get a copy of the rules or office order that set the fee and timeline for issuing map copies in your state.
+RTI is a strong route precisely because the office cannot ignore it the way a counter request is sometimes ignored. The PIO must reply within the time limit under the Act, and a failure to do so opens a first appeal. Read our guide on [[/file-rti-online-india|how to file an RTI online]] for the steps, and [[/file-first-appeal-rti-section-19-2026|how to file a first appeal under Section 19]] if the department does not respond in time. For the full appeal path see our [[/rti-first-appeal-second-appeal-guide|first appeal and second appeal guide]].
+Because the certified-copy counter route is the normal first step and RTI is the reliable fallback, many people run both in parallel: apply at the counter for the certified copy, and if it stalls, file the RTI for the same maps plus the status of the stalled application.
+===== When RTI will not help =====
+**RTI does not decide your boundary or title.** RTI gives you copies of records and information. It will not order a fresh survey, fix an encroachment, or settle who owns the land. If the map on paper differs from the ground, or a neighbour has encroached, you need a re-survey by the survey office and, where contested, a civil court — not an RTI.
+**Private surveyors and agents are not covered.** If you hired a private surveyor, a property agent, or a private digitiser to get the map and they are sitting on it, RTI does not reach them, because they are not public authorities. Pursue them through your agreement and, if needed, the consumer route. RTI only reaches the map record held by the public authority — the revenue, land-records, or survey department.
+**RTI is not a substitute for the prescribed certified-copy procedure where a specific certified format is mandatory.** If a court or registering authority insists on a certified copy issued in a particular form, complete the certified-copy application as well. Use RTI to unblock and to obtain the record, but follow the formal certification route for the exact format your matter needs, and confirm with your advocate in a high-stakes case.
+===== Common mistakes to avoid =====
+  * **Asking for "the map" without the survey number and village.** Offices file maps by survey number within a village. Vague requests get vague answers. Always state the survey number, sub-division, village, taluk, and district, exactly as in your record.
+  * **Treating a portal download as a certified copy.** A map viewed or downloaded from the state portal is usually a viewing copy. For court, registration, or a loan, you generally still need a certified copy from the survey or land-records office.
+  * **Not getting a dated acknowledgement.** Without a stamped acknowledgement of your certified-copy application, the office can claim you never applied. Keep two copies and have one stamped and returned to you.
+  * **Accepting "not available" verbally.** If the office says the map is not available, under re-survey, or not digitised, ask them to record that reason in writing. That written note is your strongest basis for escalation or an RTI.
+  * **Confusing the map with the record of rights.** The 7/12, RTC, patta, or khatauni is the text record of who holds the land; the map is the spatial sketch. Ask for the map sheet specifically — village map, survey map, and FMB or tippan — not just the extract.
+  * **Expecting RTI to fix a boundary dispute.** RTI gets you the record. It does not measure your land or evict an encroacher. For a ground-versus-record mismatch, apply for a re-survey and, if contested, go to civil court.
+  * **Using the wrong state map name.** The same sheet is called FMB, tippan, naksha, or akarbandh in different states. If the office does not recognise your term, describe the sheet by what it shows — the measured boundary of your survey number — and give the number and village.
+===== Official links =====
+  * [[https://dolr.gov.in|Department of Land Resources, Government of India — dolr.gov.in]]
+  * [[https://digitalindialandrecords.nic.in|Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme — digitalindialandrecords.nic.in]]
+  * [[https://rtionline.gov.in|RTI Online Portal — rtionline.gov.in (Central public authorities)]]
+  * [[https://pgportal.gov.in|CPGRAMS — Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System]]
+For the survey or cadastral map viewer and the certified-copy procedure in your own state, search for your state's official land-records or survey department portal, as the portal name, map type, and fee vary by state.
+===== Frequently asked questions =====
+==== What is the difference between a village map, a survey map, and an FMB or tippan? ====
+A village map shows the whole revenue village divided into survey numbers, with roads, water bodies, and boundaries. A survey map or cadastral map zooms in to show individual survey numbers and their measurements. The FMB (Field Measurement Book) sketch, called tippan, naksha, or akarbandh in different states, is the detailed measurement sheet for a single survey number or sub-division. The exact names vary by state, so tell the office the survey number and village and ask for whichever sheet covers your plot.
+==== Can I get the survey map online without going to the office? ====
+In many states you can view or download a cadastral map online through the state land-records or survey portal. These portals carry different names in different states, such as Bhu-Naksha and similar viewers. A map downloaded from the portal is usually a viewing copy and may not be a certified copy valid for court or registration. For a certified copy you generally still apply to the survey or land-records office, online or at the counter, and pay the prescribed fee. Check your own state's official portal for what it offers.
+==== What details do I need before I apply for a survey map copy? ====
+Keep the survey number or block and sub-division number, the village name, the taluk or tehsil, and the district ready. If you know the older record reference, the khata, or the holder's name, add that too. Carry a proof of identity and, if asked, a document showing your interest in the land such as a sale deed, record-of-rights extract, or tax receipt. Accurate survey-number and village details help the office locate the right map quickly and avoid a wrong sheet being issued.
+==== The office says my survey number is under re-survey or not digitised. What now? ====
+Ask the office to put that reason in writing on your application or as an acknowledgement. If the digital map is not ready, ask whether the old manual map or FMB sheet can be certified instead. If they still refuse or stay silent, file an RTI with the survey or land-records department asking for a certified copy of the available map and the current status of the survey for that number. A public authority cannot simply ignore a lawful request, and RTI forces a written, time-bound response.
+==== Can I file an RTI to get a certified copy of the village or survey map? ====
+Yes. The land-records, revenue, and survey-and-settlement departments are public authorities under the RTI Act, 2005. You can file an RTI asking for a certified copy of the village map, the survey or cadastral map, and the FMB or tippan sheet for your survey number. You can also ask why the certified-copy application filed at the counter was not processed and on what date. RTI is a reliable fallback when the normal counter route stalls.
+==== Will an RTI copy of the map be accepted as a certified copy in court? ====
+A copy supplied under the RTI Act by the public authority that holds the record is an authentic copy from the official source, and is often accepted. However, whether a particular court or registering authority treats it as a formal certified copy can vary. If you specifically need a certified copy for a court case or registration, say so in your RTI and your certified-copy application, and ask the office to certify the map. For a court matter with high stakes, confirm the exact form of copy with your advocate.
+==== How much does a survey or village map copy cost? ====
+The fee for a certified copy of a map varies by state, by the type of map, and by sheet size, so check the prescribed fee on your state's land-records or survey portal or at the counter. For an RTI application to a State public authority, the application fee and the per-page or actual cost of supplying a map copy are set by the State RTI rules. People below the poverty line are exempt from RTI fees. Always ask for a receipt for any payment.
+{{tag>rti property land survey map village copy provided}}