Patna: The Bihar government has imposed financial penalties on more than 600 revenue officials, citing negligence and non-cooperation during ongoing census operations, in a move that signals a tougher stance on administrative accountability.
According to an order issued by the state’s department of revenue and land reforms, each official will be fined Rs 1,000, with the amount to be deducted directly from their salaries. The action also includes five officials from Muzaffarpur district.
In the directive, C.K. Anil, the department’s principal secretary and state nodal officer for the census, said the officials had failed to provide the necessary support for the exercise. The order noted that obstructing or refusing to cooperate with census work constitutes a violation under the Census Act, which provides for punitive action.
The decision follows reports that a number of officials had taken mass leave or participated in strike action, disrupting the enumeration process at a critical stage. Authorities have treated the disruption as a serious lapse, invoking provisions of the Census Act to initiate disciplinary measures.
The first phase of the census is currently under way, scheduled from April 17 to May 1, with enumeration activities being carried out across the state. The second phase is set to run from May 2 to May 31. Officials said the timing of the disruption, during a key operational window, prompted the government to adopt a firm approach.
The fines are part of broader efforts to ensure the smooth conduct of the census, a crucial administrative exercise that informs policy planning and resource allocation.
