Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: In a significant move to eliminate delays in land mutation cases, the Revenue and Land Reforms Department in Bihar has introduced clear definitions for the terms “competent court” and “pending”. Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue and Land Reforms Minister, Vijay Kumar Sinha, said the step would curb the tendency to keep cases pending unnecessarily and ensure their swift disposal.
Sinha stated that differing interpretations of the term “pending before a competent court” under Section 6(12) of the Bihar Land Mutation Act, 2011, had led to delays in resolving mutation cases across several circles. To address this issue, the department conducted a review and issued clear guidelines to revenue officials at all levels.
Under the new directives, “competent court” will include civil courts, the Patna High Court, and the Supreme Court of India. Additionally, courts of the DCLR, ADM, DM, Commissioner, official courts under the Law Department, and the Bihar Land Tribunal have also been brought under this category.
The Deputy Chief Minister clarified that a case will be considered “pending” only if it has been duly filed and is under process in a court, where cognisance has been taken, notices have been issued, or interim orders—such as stay orders, temporary or permanent injunctions, or status quo directives—are in effect.
Merely filing an application or objection will not qualify as a case “pending before a competent court”. Sinha emphasised that in the absence of a clear stay or interim order from a competent court, revenue officials must proceed with action as per rules. Cases lacking documented admission in certified copies will also not be treated as pending.
Reiterating the government’s stance, Sinha warned that excuses in handling land mutation cases will no longer be tolerated, signalling stricter enforcement to ensure timely resolution of land-related disputes.
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