Patna: The Bihar government has decided to constitute a special cell to oversee the removal of encroachments from lands belonging to religious trusts, maths, temples and other religious institutions across the state.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal on Friday. Law Minister Sanjay Singh and Bihar State Religious Trust Board chairman Prof Ranbir Nandan were also present.
Inter-Departmental Mechanism Planned
According to officials, the proposed special cell will bring together the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, the Law Department and the Bihar State Religious Trust Board.
The cell will monitor disputes related to trust properties, coordinate legal proceedings and oversee efforts to remove encroachments from identified lands. It will also work on preventing future disputes and unauthorised occupation of such properties.
Digital Record of Properties
The government has also decided to create a digital record of properties owned by religious trusts, maths, temples and other religious institutions.
Officials said the digital database is intended to improve documentation, strengthen monitoring and support the protection of religious trust assets.
Government Prioritises Removal of Encroachments
Addressing the meeting, Jaiswal said safeguarding lands belonging to religious trusts and institutions was a priority for the state government.
He noted that the government had received complaints regarding alleged encroachments and irregularities involving trust properties. The minister directed officials to ensure compliance with orders issued by the Bihar State Religious Trust Board tribunal and to carry out targeted drives to clear identified encroachments.
