Bihar Government to Form High-Level Committee for Land Encroachment Investigation in Kishanganj
In a significant development during the Bihar legislative assembly's budget session, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha declared on Friday that the state government is prepared to constitute a high-level committee. This committee will investigate alleged illegal occupation of settlement land in the Dighalbank block of Kishanganj district by outsiders.
MLA Raises Concerns Over Land Encroachment in Border Region
Replying to a non-official resolution moved by Thakurganj MLA Gopal Kumar Agarwal, Sinha emphasized that the committee would examine the matter in detail. Agarwal had highlighted alleged encroachment on settlement land in the border region, specifically pointing out that nearly 90 acres of land allotted to local Dalit, Adivasi, and poor Surjapuri Muslim families under the state government's Bhoodan and Red Card schemes over the past 40 years had been encroached upon over the last decade by outsiders from Malda and Murshidabad in West Bengal.
The MLA demanded physical verification and liberation of these land parcels from illegal occupation. In response, Sinha stated, "A special committee will be formed to investigate the process of forging documents by outsiders." He added that the state government has already initiated action against infiltrators in the Seemanchal region bordering Nepal and Bangladesh.
Union Home Minister's Stance on Border Encroachments
This move aligns with Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent statement in Araria on Thursday, where he asserted that all encroachments by infiltrators within a 10km radius of the Seemanchal border areas would be removed. Shah warned that demographic change poses a danger to the history, culture, and geography of the country.
However, Sinha clarified that according to a report received from the Kishanganj District Magistrate, no specific cases of land grabbing by outsiders have come to light so far. He assured that if instances of illegal transfer or sale of settlement land are found, the jamabandi in the name of the buyer would be cancelled, and the settlement granted to the original settlor would also be revoked. In such cases, the land would revert to the government.
Panchayat Elections on Party Lines Sought by BJP MLA
In other assembly proceedings, BJP MLA Krishna Kumar Rishi demanded that panchayat elections be conducted on party lines. Panchayati Raj Minister Deepak Prakash responded by stating that if there is consensus among all stakeholders, the matter could be considered. He clarified that panchayat elections are currently conducted in accordance with the Bihar Panchayati Raj Act, 2006 and the Bihar Panchayat Election Rules, with no proposal at the government level to hold elections on a party basis.
"However, this is a matter that needs to be discussed among all stakeholders. If all political parties and the general public agree, it can be considered," Prakash said. Panchayat elections are expected to be held in November.
State Government Rejects Age Relaxation for EWS Category
Additionally, the state government rejected the demand for age relaxation for candidates belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category in jobs and other services. This resolution was moved by MLA Anil Singh. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary explained that the provisions made by the central government for the EWS category do not include any age relaxation, and no state in the country has such a provision.
Budget Session Adjourned Sine Die
The tumultuous budget session of the Bihar legislative assembly was adjourned sine die on Friday. Speaker Prem Kumar reported that a total of 3,783 questions were accepted during the session, and several bills were passed. He expressed gratitude to members for their cooperation and noted that the session, which began on February 2, comprised 19 sittings, including the governor's address and the presentation of the budget for the financial year 2025-26.
