Patna: Landowners in Bihar will now be able to access verified copies of archived land records online, including documents that are not yet available on the state’s digital land records portal.
The Department of Revenue and Land Reforms has issued fresh guidelines directing officials to provide scanned copies of such records through an online application process, marking another step in the state’s push towards digitisation of land administration.
The directives were issued on Friday by Jai Singh, Secretary of the Department of Revenue and Land Reforms. Copies of the guidelines have been sent to district magistrates, additional collectors, deputy collectors land reforms (DCLRs) and circle officers across the state.
Online Access to Archived Records
Under the new system, applicants seeking records that are unavailable on the Land Records Portal will be able to submit an online request.
Following the application, the concerned Circle Officer will retrieve the required documents from departmental archives, arrange for their digitisation through scanning and make the records available online to the applicant.
The move is intended to ensure that landowners can access historical records without having to visit government offices repeatedly.
Shift Towards Fully Digital Land Services
According to the department, all land-related records have been gradually shifted to an online platform since January 1 this year.
As part of this transition, the offline system for accessing land records has been discontinued. The government has also recognised digitally signed copies of land documents as legally valid records.
Officials said the latest directive addresses a gap in the system, as some older records and documents have not yet been uploaded to the Land Records Portal.
Immediate Implementation Ordered
The department has instructed field officials to implement the new arrangement with immediate effect.
Under the guidelines, scanned copies of unavailable records must be provided through online channels once the documents have been retrieved and digitised.
The initiative is expected to reduce paperwork, improve transparency and make access to land records easier for property owners across Bihar, particularly those seeking older documents that remain stored in physical archives.
