Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Vijay Sinha
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Land-related disputes have long posed a major challenge in Bihar. In response, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue & Land Reforms Minister Vijay Sinha has announced an extensive series of departmental reforms. He said that most public grievances in the state stem from land disputes, and the government will now act swiftly on such matters.
Sinha stated that delays in mutation, registration and correction cases would no longer be tolerated. “The accountability of the Land Reforms Department will be fixed, and transparency will be ensured at every level. From 12 December, we are launching the Land Reforms Public Dialogue initiative. Under the new system, employees responsible for delays will be identified and asked to submit immediate explanations,” he said.
Bulldozer Action Against Encroachment on Government Land
The Bihar government will launch a major campaign from March 2026 to remove encroachments on government land. Sinha said the action would go “beyond bulldozers”, with large-scale clearing of state-owned land and strict legal action against encroachers. Whistle-blowers who expose illegal occupation will be honoured by the department. The government aims to free all government land from encroachment.
Weekly Monitoring of Mutation and Correction Cases
Sinha noted that mutation and land correction files often remain pending for months, causing hardship to landholders. He warned officials that weekly review of these files is now mandatory. Districts will prepare lists of pending applications, and departmental action will follow if officers fail to process them on time.
Written Reasons Mandatory for Rejected Files
To ensure transparency, the department has made it compulsory for officers to record detailed reasons for rejecting any application. Senior officials will verify these reasons. Sinha stressed that the era of the “bag-carrying office” is over — every employee must mark regular attendance in their assigned panchayat areas. Files cannot be held back or returned without explanation.
‘Flying Document’ Team to Crack Down on Fake Land Papers
Fraud involving forged land documents has long been a concern in Bihar. To counter this, a special investigation team named ‘Flying Document’ is being set up. It will probe fraudulent transactions based on forged papers, taking action against culprits, including land mafias, white-collar collaborators and departmental staff.
Sinha said strict action would be taken against any officer or employee found colluding with land mafias. The department’s goal is to eliminate land-related fraud completely.
Maps and Land Records to Be Available at Panchayat Level
To make land information easily accessible, maps and land lists will be provided at the panchayat level. This will save landholders from repeated visits to block or district offices.
Under the Revenue Mega Campaign, 46 lakh applications have been received, including mutation, correction and major dispute cases. The target is to upload all applications by 31 December. Of these, 12 lakh cases are currently under disposal.
Land Reforms Public Welfare Dialogue from 12 December
From 12 December, Bihar will roll out the Land Reforms Public Welfare Dialogue to expedite the resolution of land disputes. The programme will begin in Patna and reach all districts within 100 days.
Landholders will be able to present their issues directly at the venue, with all departmental officers present. On-the-spot disposal processes will also begin at these sessions. Sinha described it as a new initiative of the new government, aimed at providing quick relief to landholders.
Deputy Chief Minister to Hear Disputes Personally
Sinha said he would personally conduct two-hour hearings on land disputes in every district. Complainants will be able to present their cases directly before officials and the Deputy Chief Minister. To curb corruption and irregularities, CCTV surveillance has been made mandatory in all offices.
Government Prepares Comprehensive Roadmap for Land Reforms
Sinha concluded that sweeping changes are necessary in the Land Reforms Department. Stringent action will follow in cases related to mutation, land correction, disputes and forged documents. He assured that landholders’ issues will be resolved on priority and that the results of the reforms will become visible soon. The government, he said, will enforce stronger monitoring, ensuring timely completion of all land-related processes.
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