Patna. Amid the long ongoing dispute over land and revenue administration in Bihar, the Nitish government has taken a big and decisive step. In order to resolve the ongoing conflict between Bihar Administrative Service and Bihar Revenue Service officials regarding posting to the post of Land Reforms Deputy Collector (DCLR), the government has created a new post at the sub-divisional level. This new post has been named Sub-Divisional Revenue Officer.

For this, the government has amended the Bihar Revenue Service Rules, 2010, the notification of which has been issued by the Revenue and Land Reforms Department. It has been clearly decided that only Bihar Revenue Service officers will be posted on this post. This clearly indicates that the government is moving towards giving the revenue service officers their original role and powers.

Responsibilities of Sub-Divisional Revenue Officer fixed

Along with the new post, the government has also set eight major tasks. These include supervision of work done at the zonal level, revenue collection, online revenue management, security of government land, making land available for public purposes, disaster management and conducting special campaigns. Apart from this, hearing of public complaints and disposal of quasi-judicial cases will also be the responsibility of this officer.

Background of Revenue Service and the root of the dispute

Bihar Revenue Service was formed in the year 2010 with the objective of creating a separate cadre for matters to land and revenue. Earlier, only Bihar Administrative Service officers were posted on posts like Circle Officer, DCLR and Land Acquisition Officer. It was decided that Revenue Service officers would start from the post of Circle Officer and after promotion, they would be given responsibilities at higher posts.

However, this could not happen completely in practice. The next important post after Circle Officer is DCLR. There are a total of 101 sub-divisions in the state, where DCLR is deployed. Now that Bihar Revenue Service officers have completed 15 years of service and have become eligible for higher posts including DCLR, despite this, Bihar Administrative Service officers continue to hold most of the posts.

The case is pending in the High Court

In June last year, the High Court had directed the state government to deploy Bihar Revenue Service officers on the post of DCLR, but till now this order has not been fully implemented. The next hearing is to be held in February, where the government will have to explain what difficulties it is facing in implementing the order.

In such a situation, creation of a new post of Sub-Divisional Revenue Officer is being seen as a strategic initiative of the government. It is believed that this will not only create administrative balance, but the Revenue Service officers will also get responsibility and respect as per their role.