Bihar’s Land Survey Simplified: Owner or Representative Presence Optional, Panchayat Involvement Reduced

Patna: After a gap of 185 years, Bihar has begun the process of land surveys across the state, which commenced on 20th August 2024. This massive exercise will cover more than 45,000 villages, and residents living outside their villages can apply online to have their land surveyed.

In an important development, the Bihar government has issued new guidelines for surveying ancestral land registered under different names. To complete the survey, residents must now provide a genealogical record. This can be created by taking an oath before a magistrate or notary public, or by obtaining a signature from a village panchayat representative.

However, the earlier process caused difficulties for many applicants, as the absence of village officials and panchayat representatives created hurdles. Complaints about these delays were frequently raised with the Revenue and Land Reforms Department. In response, the government has now eased the requirements.

Under the revised rules, land can now be measured based on a self-declaration form, and the physical presence of the landowner is no longer mandatory. A representative can be present on the owner’s behalf, making the identification process easier for survey workers. Additionally, applicants are no longer required to submit updated revenue receipts for the land during the application process. Instead, older receipts can be submitted.

According to officials from the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, there is no longer a need to swear an oath before a magistrate or notary public, nor to secure the signature of a Gram Panchayat representative to establish a genealogy. Instead, descendants of the landowners (Raiyats) can prepare the genealogical record themselves and submit it to the zonal camp. In case of any objections, the survey personnel will verify the information. If the original landowner is alive, submitting a genealogy is not required.

Applicants must submit the following documents for the survey:

1. A self-declaration form in Form-2, either from the landowner (Raiyat) or their descendants, including the genealogy declaration.

2. A photocopy of the current land revenue receipt.

3. For purchased, exchanged, or donated land, relevant documents must be provided.

4. A photocopy of any court orders related to the land, if applicable.

5. Documents like settlement land papers, Bhu-Daan certificates, or Vasgeet Parcha must also be submitted.  

The state government continues to hold meetings to encourage people to participate in the survey. The large-scale survey is expected to bring clarity to land ownership across Bihar and help streamline land-related disputes and registrations in the future.