Bihar CM orders probe into Gaya allotment

Nitish asked the Revenue and Land Reforms department — nodal agency for implementation of the scheme — to immediately look into the Gaya allotment and take prompt remedial action. Earlier,the state government had ordered fresh survey of landless SC families,suspended Raniganj (Araria) circle office,and instituted vigilance inquiry into Araria land allotments following a series of reports published by The Indian Express last month.

Revenue and Land Reforms Secretary Hukum Singh Mina said: “It seems a gross violation of all established norms. How can land-owning people be allotted three decimal plots each,meant for the landless?” Mina was surprised at “illegal allotment” — families exchanging their land plots at Bansi Bigha,now known as Dasrath Nagar. Revenue and Land Reforms Principal Secretary C Ashokvardhan could not be contacted.

The official in question,Prabhat Kumar Jha,now Gaya Land Acquisition Officer and then Atri circle officer,said: “I have checked records and found that payments were made to every one.”

When asked why and how land-owning families can be allotted plots,Jha said: “I might have done the wrong thing,but little can be done to correct it.” Asked why land allotments had not been cancelled even after two years,he said his office was not competent to do so.