Patna: Bihar’s Revenue and Land Reforms Department has tightened accountability for Circle Officers (COs) handling land records, directing them to identify errors in Jamabandi records themselves instead of waiting for applications from landowners.
Revenue and Land Reforms Department Secretary Jai Singh issued the direction during a review meeting held on Thursday, where officials assessed the progress of several revenue-related programmes across districts.
The department said the responsibility for revenue work conducted at the circle level would ultimately rest with the concerned Circle Officer.
Jamabandi Corrections To Go Beyond Applications
The department has instructed COs to examine Jamabandi records in their respective areas and identify discrepancies wherever they are found.
Officials have been told to initiate corrections according to the applicable rules rather than limiting the Jamabandi correction campaign to cases where applications have already been submitted.
The move is intended to ensure that errors already present in revenue records are also identified through administrative scrutiny and taken up for correction.
Three Saran COs Face Suspension Action
During the review, the department expressed concern over the disposal of applications under the Revenue Mahaabhiyan in three circles of Saran district.
Instructions were issued to initiate suspension action against the Circle Officers of Parsa, Amnour and Dariyapur after 99% of applications were reportedly rejected in the three circles.
The department made it clear that the objective of the Revenue Mahaabhiyan is to resolve land-related issues faced by citizens. Officials have therefore been asked to ensure that applications are processed according to rules and that cases are not rejected without proper examination.
Rejected Cases To Be Reviewed Again
The department has also directed officials to revisit cases that were previously rejected because of errors in Jamabandi records.
Where a case becomes eligible for disposal after the necessary corrections are made, officials have been asked to complete the process instead of treating the earlier rejection as the end of the matter.
This approach is intended to give officials a greater role in resolving errors in land records and ensuring that eligible cases are processed.
Initiative On Inheritance Mutations
The review meeting also covered mutation of inheritance rights after the death of a recorded landholder, or raiyat.
Circle Officers have been directed to take proactive steps in such cases as well. When the names of legal heirs are not updated in land records after the death of a raiyat, families can face difficulties in dealing with the property in the future.
The department is therefore focusing on timely disposal of such inheritance mutation cases.
No Need To Visit Patna For Abhiyan Basera
Officials also reviewed Abhiyan Basera, a programme for eligible landless beneficiaries.
Revenue Secretary Jai Singh said eligible landless people do not need to travel to the state headquarters in Patna to submit applications. They can submit their applications at their respective circle offices.
Officials have been instructed to provide applicants with clear information about eligibility and the application process so that beneficiaries are not required to make unnecessary visits.
Action Against Those Providing Wrong Information
The department has also warned that legal action may be taken against people who deliberately mislead beneficiaries or provide incorrect information about the application process.
Officials have been asked to ensure that accurate information reaches the public, particularly landless beneficiaries seeking assistance under Abhiyan Basera.
Accountability At Circle Level
The latest review indicates a stronger focus on direct accountability of Circle Officers for revenue work at the local level.
From Jamabandi correction and mutation to the processing of applications under land-related campaigns, COs have been made responsible for ensuring that cases are properly examined and disposed of according to the rules.
The meeting was attended by departmental officials including Mona Jha, Joint Secretary Girdhari Lal, Dr Sunil Kumar, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Manibhushan Kishore, Nawazish Akhtar, Anupam Prakash, Avinash Kumar, Juhi Kumari and Anand Shankar, along with Circle Officers from Saran, Supaul and West Champaran.
The department’s latest direction places emphasis on proactive identification of errors in land records, review of rejected cases and stronger accountability where officials fail to properly process applications.
