Ara: Five revenue officials in Bihar have been suspended after participating in a strike that authorities say disrupted public services, escalating tensions between the state administration and its employees.
The action was taken in Bhojpur district, where the district magistrate, Tanay Sultania, ordered the immediate suspension of the officials while they were on mass leave as part of an ongoing strike. Officials said the move was intended to restore administrative functioning and reinforce discipline within the department.
According to the administration, the employees continued to participate in the strike despite clear directives to resume work, in what it described as a violation of service rules and a hindrance to governance. The suspensions affect revenue staff posted in Tarari, Bihiya, Charpokhari, Udwantnagar and Sadar Ara.
Authorities allege the officials breached provisions of the Bihar Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1976, and failed to comply with instructions from senior officers, thereby obstructing departmental work.
The crackdown follows a directive from the state’s department of revenue and land reforms, which had warned that the strike—organised by the Bihar State Land Reforms Employees’ Association along with the Sanyukt Sangharsh Morcha—would not be tolerated. The department had indicated that disciplinary action would be taken against those disrupting official duties.
The dispute has taken on wider political significance, with the government framing the response as part of a broader “zero-tolerance” approach to administrative disruption. Earlier, senior leaders including former minister Vijay Kumar Sinha had urged striking employees to return to work, but the calls went unheeded.
It remains unclear whether the suspensions will prompt an end to the strike or deepen the standoff. For now, the developments in Bhojpur are being closely watched across Bihar as a test of the government’s resolve in dealing with organised employee protests.
