Patna: The Bihar government has suspended its “first-in, first-out” (FIFO) system for land-related services until June 30, in a move officials say is aimed at speeding up the resolution of pending cases and prioritising applications received through public grievance meetings.
The Department of Revenue and Land Reforms issued an order on Wednesday confirming the temporary suspension of the mechanism, which previously ensured that applications were processed strictly in the order in which they were received. According to the order, cited by deputy director Mona Jha, cases submitted during “land reforms public welfare dialogue” sessions chaired by deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha will now be given precedence during this period.
Officials said the decision is intended as an interim arrangement to address delays and improve service delivery in land administration. A review of the system is scheduled for June 30, after which the government will decide whether to restore the FIFO mechanism or continue with the revised approach.
The move is expected to provide relief to landowners facing long-standing disputes and pending applications in a state where land records and mutation processes are often cited as sources of administrative delay.
In a separate development aimed at improving citizen services, the state has also directed that death certificates be issued within 24 hours of funeral rites conducted at cremation grounds and cemeteries located in Gram Panchayats under Bihar’s “Seven Resolves-03” programme. The initiative falls under the pledge titled “Sabka Samman – Jivan Aasan” (Respect for All – Life Made Easy).
A review of the process was held on Wednesday during a video conference chaired by Manoj Kumar, secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department Bihar. Deputy development commissioners from all districts and additional chief executive officers of district councils participated in the meeting.
Under the revised instructions, panchayat secretaries will be responsible for issuing death certificates to the next of kin. Ward members have been directed to ensure timely distribution of the required forms (Form 02 and Form 08), enabling the process to be completed within the stipulated 24-hour window.
The department has also developed a dedicated monitoring portal to track the number of cremations and burials recorded at gram panchayat-level facilities, as well as compliance with the 24-hour certification timeline. Officials said the digital system is intended to improve transparency and ensure timely delivery of services across rural administration units.
