Bihar

The Patna High Court has directed the Bihar government to submit detailed and authentic data regarding the export of horticultural produce—particularly mangoes and litchis—from the state. The court sought clarity on the infrastructure developed so far to promote the export of these high-value fruits, which are among Bihar’s key agricultural strengths. A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice and Justice Alok Kumar Pandey passed the order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Maurya Vijay Chandra. The Bench instructed the Principal Secretary, Agriculture Department, and the Director of Horticulture to place before the court the actual quantities of mangoes and litchis exported from Bihar during recent agricultural seasons. Court Questions Export Re...

In a major relief for LPG consumers and beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), the government has made the biometric e-KYC process simpler, faster, and completely free. Consumers can now complete their LPG subsidy KYC from home using a smartphone, eliminating the need to visit gas agencies or service centers. Under the new system, face authentication–based Aadhaar e-KYC has been enabled, allowing beneficiaries to verify their identity digitally within minutes. This move aims to ensure uninterrupted LPG subsidy benefits while enhancing transparency and preventing misuse. Complete KYC on Mobile, No Agency Visit Required According to official guidelines, LPG consumers can initiate the e-KYC process online by visiting the designated portal or by scanning the QR cod...

A massive number of land mutation (Dakhil-Kharij) applications have been rejected in Patna district, causing widespread concern among raiyats (landholders). According to official data, out of 10.16 lakh online applications submitted so far, more than 3.65 lakh applications—nearly 36 percent—have been rejected, primarily due to incomplete documentation and lack of coordination at the circle (Anchal) office level. Officials report that 6.33 lakh applications have been accepted for disposal, while 17,025 applications (1.67 percent) are still pending. The high rejection rate has left thousands of landowners struggling to get their ownership records updated, an essential requirement for sale, inheritance, loans, and government schemes. Documentation Gaps Major Cause Revenue experts and...

In a landmark judgment with far-reaching implications for cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Patna High Court has overturned the conviction of Pawan Kumar Mandal and ordered his immediate release from jail. The Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Dr. Anshuman set aside the lower court’s verdict, laying down crucial guidelines on age determination and the misuse of POCSO provisions in consent-based relationships. The High Court strongly observed that medical examination alone cannot be treated as a conclusive or exclusive basis for determining age, as medical science itself allows a margin of error of one to two years. Relying solely on such approximate assessments, the Court held, is unjust and poses a serious threat to...

In Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, poverty-stricken families are being pushed into a deadly debt trap as illegal microfinance companies—locally dubbed “Gunda Banks”—continue to operate unchecked, exploiting the weakest sections of society. Charging exorbitant interest rates and using intimidation tactics, these unregulated lenders have turned entire villages into zones of fear, with a disturbing rise in suicides linked to loan recovery harassment. Despite the presence of only 22 registered microfinance companies in the district, dozens of illegal entities are functioning openly, exposing serious administrative lapses. These lenders, masquerading as legitimate microfinance institutions, reportedly charge up to 30 percent interest and deploy criminally inclined recovery agents to coerce rep...

Amid the ongoing controversy in Bihar over Chief Minister Nitish Kumar allegedly removing a Muslim woman’s hijab, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has come to his defense, calling the incident unintentional and warning against linking it to religion. The incident, which occurred in the political corridors of Bihar, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. However, Manjhi, the patron of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), asserted that the Chief Minister’s actions were never meant to hurt religious sentiments or disrespect anyone. He described the event as “accidental” and urged both the public and opposition parties to view it from a humanitarian perspective rather than a religious lens. Manjhi: No Intent to Insult Speaking to the media, Manjhi suggested that Nitish Kumar m...

In a shocking incident that has sent waves of anger and concern among devotees, a major theft has been reported at the famous Thawe Durga Temple in Gopalganj district of Bihar. Unknown miscreants allegedly broke into the temple late on Wednesday night and decamped with the sacred gold crown of the deity, a silver canopy, and gold ornaments worth several lakhs of rupees. According to police officials, two masked thieves scaled the boundary wall of the temple premises around 11:30 pm amid dense fog and near-zero visibility. Using a gas cutter, they broke open the lock of the sanctum sanctorum and carried out the theft within minutes before fleeing the scene by jumping back over the wall. Police Investigation Underway Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Avadhesh Kumar Dixit reached th...

Sitamarhi, Bihar: The appointments of nearly 70,000 teachers recruited in Bihar between 2006 and 2015 are now under scrutiny as the monitoring department reports that crucial personnel files are missing. The absence of these records has raised doubts over the legitimacy of their appointments, with authorities stating that the positions of teachers whose files cannot be located cannot be considered valid until verification is complete. High Court-Ordered InvestigationFollowing a directive from the Patna High Court, the Bihar Monitoring Department has been conducting a statewide investigation into teacher appointments. Hundreds of fraudulent teachers have already been identified, FIRs filed, and dismissals carried out. However, records for 69,649 teachers are still unavailable, preventing...