Patna: Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister, Vijay Sinha, has pledged to eliminate the influence of middlemen in the state’s land and revenue department, amid growing complaints that brokers have come to dominate routine administrative processes.
Speaking at a public land-reform outreach programme in Bhagalpur, Sinha, who also holds the revenue and land reforms portfolio, said the prevalence of intermediaries had caused serious hardship for ordinary citizens seeking land-related services.
He said people were being forced to make repeated visits to government offices because of broker-led practices, describing the situation as both unjust to the public and damaging to the government’s credibility. “The system must change,” he said, adding that citizens should be able to resolve land matters without relying on intermediaries.
The deputy chief minister issued a warning to officials and staff, saying strict action would be taken against anyone found supporting or protecting brokers within the department. He said honesty and accountability would now be non-negotiable requirements for officials dealing with land and revenue matters.
Sinha said a “clean-up drive” had already begun and that there was “no place for middlemen” in the department. During the programme, he listened to public grievances related to land disputes and directed officials to resolve several cases on the spot.
He added that similar outreach programmes were being organised across the state to ensure faster resolution of land disputes and regular review of pending cases. A departmental helpline has also been activated to allow citizens to lodge complaints directly, he said.
According to Sinha, the government’s objective is not limited to grievance redressal but extends to long-term systemic reform. He said rules governing land administration would be made stricter and simpler to curb corruption and reduce dependence on intermediaries.
The remarks signal a renewed push by the Nitish Kumar-led government to project transparency and accountability in one of Bihar’s most complaint-prone administrative departments.
