Patna, Dec 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Revenue and Land Reforms Vijay Kumar Sinha, who has launched a strong campaign against land mafia, brokers and corruption in the department, has categorically stated that no fraud or manipulation involving government land will be tolerated.
He warned that strict action would be taken not only against land mafia involved in selling government land but also against departmental officials found colluding with them.
Addressing the issue, Vijay Kumar Sinha said that the transfer of government land belonging to the State Seed Multiplication Farm in Kanti, Muzaffarpur, to a private individual was a very serious matter.
“Government land cannot be encroached upon under any circumstances. If investigations reveal that rules were ignored or court orders were misinterpreted to register government land in private names, the strictest legal and departmental action will be taken against all responsible officials and beneficiaries,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
The case involves the illegal transfer of 44 dismils of government land out of a total of six acres registered in the name of the State Seed Multiplication Farm, Kanti (Muzaffarpur).
The transfer was carried out by the then Circle Officer of Kanti on the basis of an order passed in December 2023 in Title Suit No. 303/2018.
However, under established procedures, it was mandatory to obtain a legal opinion and file an appeal in the competent court before making any changes to the land records.
The Circle Officer failed to follow this procedure and directly transferred agricultural land belonging to the Agriculture Department to a private individual.
Taking cognisance of the matter, the Additional Collector of Muzaffarpur ordered an inquiry.
The inquiry report concluded that the Circle Officer had violated departmental provisions by unlawfully transferring government agricultural land.
Based on the inquiry findings, the District Magistrate of Muzaffarpur informed the Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Land Reforms Department, Patna, and recommended strict action.
Subsequently, the then Circle Officer of Kanti was suspended by the department.
At the same time, the process of filing an appeal against the order of the Sub-Judge, Muzaffarpur, was expedited.
Correspondence was initiated with the Principal Secretary, Agriculture Department, and the legal grounds for appeal were prepared.
Following a legal opinion from the Advocate General of Bihar, which advised immediate action, the District Agriculture Officer, Muzaffarpur, filed a first appeal in the Patna High Court.
The appeal is currently pending before the High Court.
Administrative sources said the case is being viewed as a test case for the protection of government agricultural land in Bihar.
The Revenue and Land Reforms Department reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards land grabbing and corruption, adding that further legal and departmental action is being closely monitored.
Source: IANS
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