Patna: A prolonged strike by revenue officials and employees in Bihar has brought land-related services to a near standstill, leaving thousands of citizens struggling to resolve property matters. From mutation applications to land measurement and correction of records, several crucial services have been severely affected across the state.
An Army Jawan posted with the Indian Army in Shillong, is among those facing hardship due to the disruption. He had taken leave from duty to settle a land dispute in his hometown.
“I am posted in Shillong with the Army. Someone has constructed a road through my land. I have already submitted a complaint at the police station. I came on leave to resolve the issue, but nothing is moving. I have been running from one office to another. I may not get leave again for six months, and I don’t know how this dispute will be settled,” he said.
He had visited the Phulwari revenue circle office for assistance but returned disappointed because officials were absent due to the strike.
Statewide Impact of Strike
The disruption is not limited to a single office. Around 1,100 revenue officers have been on strike since March 9, while nearly 3,500 employees, including halka staff, have been protesting since February 11. As a result, work has been affected in about 537 revenue circles across Bihar.
Officials estimate that nearly 5,500 mutation applications and around 10,000 correction (parimarjan) requests are being added to the backlog every day. Overall, more than 40 lakh cases related to land records and services are pending due to the ongoing strike.
Despite the ground reality, the department’s minister has claimed that public services at circle offices are continuing.
Ground Situation at Phulwari Circle Office
A visit to the Phulwari circle office revealed a stark contrast to the minister’s claim. The usually crowded premises appeared unusually quiet.
Raju, who earns a livelihood by selling forms outside the office, said the strike has badly affected his income as well as public services.
“The situation has become very difficult. Mutation and other services are completely stopped. Employees and the Circle Officer are on strike. Hundreds of people are returning without getting their work done,” he said.
Inside the office premises, a Common Service Centre (CSC) counter was accepting online applications. However, staff clarified that applications were only being collected and no further action was being taken because the concerned officials were on strike.
Nitish Kumar, working at the CSC counter, said applications were being received but the process could not move forward.
“The Circle Officer and halka staff are on strike, so work is not happening as before. People are returning disappointed. Now many people have stopped coming to the office and are waiting for the strike to end,” he said.
Citizens Struggle for Basic Land Services
Most visitors to the circle office come for mutation, corrections in land records, obtaining Land Possession Certificates (LPC), or submitting requests for land measurement.
Manoj Kumar from Jakkanpur said he had come to get a land receipt issued but was asked to return after the strike ends.
“I came to get my land receipt, but they said it cannot be issued now. They told me to come after the strike is over,” he said.
Akhilesh Kumar Mehta from Kurkuri village in Ismailpur said he had applied for correction in land records nearly five to six months ago.
“I had applied for correction, and they said land measurement was required. Nothing has happened for months. Employees record information in Register-II but often do not enter proper details. In my case, the plot area itself is not recorded in the receipt. People say work gets done faster if money is paid. Now the strike has made things even worse,” he alleged.
Similarly, Manglesh Kumar from Dharaichak village in Sorampur Panchayat said he had been visiting the office repeatedly for land measurement.
“I have been running around for a month and have visited the office five to six times. Employees and the Circle Officer are on strike, so nothing is happening. Each visit costs me ₹400–₹500 in travel expenses,” he said.
Why Revenue Officials Are on Strike
Revenue officials say the protest is linked to a dispute over cadre positions and promotions in the Bihar Revenue Service.
Aditya Shivam Shankar, president of the United Bihar Revenue Service Association, said the conflict revolves around the Deputy Collector Land Reform (DCLR) post created under the Bihar Revenue Service Rules, 2010.
According to him, the government created a parallel post of Assistant District Land Acquisition Officer (ADLAO), which officers claim undermines the DCLR position.
There are 101 sanctioned posts of DCLR in the Bihar Revenue Service, considered the second promotional level. Between October and December 2023, more than 100 revenue officers were promoted to the DCLR rank but were not given postings.
The matter was raised in the Bihar Assembly and later reached the Patna High Court. The court directed the government to post the promoted officers as DCLR within three months and assign ADLAO posts to Bihar Administrative Service officers.
However, officials allege that the order was not implemented. Instead, in a cabinet meeting held on January 29, 2026, the government decided to remove the DCLR post from the Revenue Service cadre and place it under the General Administration Department, reserving it for Bihar Administrative Service officers.
In protest, revenue officials including Revenue Officers, Kanungos, Circle Officers, Assistant Settlement Officers and others went on an indefinite strike on February 2. The protest resumed again from March 9 after negotiations failed.
Halka Employees Also on Strike
The agitation has intensified because halka employees have also been on strike since February 11, raising a 17-point charter of demands.
Halka staff play a crucial role in maintaining land records, issuing land receipts, handling mutation cases, updating khatiyan and khasra records, assisting in surveys and processing corrections in land documents.
Government’s Tough Stand
Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Vijay Sinha has taken a tough stand against the strike, issuing multiple notices asking officials to resume work.
On March 18, three revenue officers were suspended. The minister declared the strike illegal and warned that officers failing to return to duty by March 25 would face disciplinary action, including termination of service and salary cuts.
The government has also assigned additional charge of several circle offices to Block Development Officers (BDOs). On March 27, Sinha said that work would resume in all circle offices from April 1 and that additional responsibilities would be assigned to available officers where needed.
Principal Secretary C. K. Anil also issued a warning that officers who intimidate colleagues returning to duty could face legal action under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. He added that officials taking additional charge would be granted full financial powers.
According to officials, around two dozen officers have already resumed work, though the strike continues in many parts of the state.
