State

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...