Bihar Cracks Down on Dual Land Records, Targets Encroachers

Brief By Newsbrief / 12:17 PM on 05 Feb 2026

The Bihar government has adopted a firm stance against land encroachment and manipulation of records, making it clear that dual ownership claims will no longer be tolerated. The Revenue and Land Reforms Department has issued detailed directions to all district collectors, mandating strict scrutiny of claims based on conflicting cadastral and revisional survey records.

Revenue Secretary C.K. Anil clarified that the cadastral survey conducted between 1890 and 1920 is Bihar’s first and authoritative land survey and will be treated as the final reference in identifying government land, including gairmazarua and sairat land. Even if revisional survey records show a private individual’s name, the land will not be treated as raiyati unless a lawful settlement order passed by the collector is available in state records.

The department has also ordered action against illegal occupants, including those in possession for over 30 years, with circle officers directed to issue notices and secure government land unless restrained by court orders. The move is being seen as a major offensive against land mafias and is expected to reshape long-pending land disputes across the state.