Patna: An elderly woman broke down and collapsed during a public grievance interaction with Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary, after alleging that her land had been fraudulently transferred to another person’s name despite repeated attempts to seek redress through official channels.
The woman, who had come to submit a complaint document in person, told the chief minister that she had been “running from office to office” for justice without success. According to those present, she became visibly distressed while describing her situation, began crying and briefly lost consciousness before collapsing to the ground. Officials and bystanders assisted her immediately.
In her complaint, she alleged that her land had been sold or transferred without her consent and that the records had been altered to reflect ownership under another individual’s name. She claimed she had made multiple attempts to resolve the issue through administrative offices but had received no resolution.
Chief minister Choudhary stopped to hear her grievance and assured her that the matter would be looked into. Officials at the scene subsequently accepted her application for further action. She was reportedly reassured that an inquiry would be initiated.
The incident took place during a public outreach programme in which citizens were invited to present grievances directly to the chief minister and senior officials. Several other attendees also raised concerns during the session.
Among them, one petitioner made broader allegations of corruption within the administration, claiming that irregularities in official functioning could be exposed if investigated. The individual did not provide detailed evidence in the public setting, but the remarks added to a wider discussion among attendees about administrative accountability.
Officials present at the venue said all complaints were being recorded digitally as part of a structured grievance redress system. They added that the aim of the process was to ensure traceability of applications and follow-up action by relevant departments.
Public grievance hearings are a recurring feature of the state government’s outreach mechanism, designed to allow citizens direct access to senior leadership. Officials said the programme is intended to improve responsiveness and reduce delays in resolving administrative issues.
While such interactions are often promoted as an opportunity for citizens to bypass bureaucratic layers, they also frequently highlight the persistence of disputes over land records and allegations of corruption in local administration, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
The state government has not yet issued a detailed statement on the specific land dispute raised by the woman. An official inquiry is expected following the submission of her complaint.
