Patna: In Bihar, the Revenue and Land Reforms Department has often been under the sharp scrutiny of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Over the years, the CM has intervened whenever he felt the department was veering off track, irrespective of whether the minister in charge belonged to the RJD or the BJP. Known for his hands-on approach, Nitish Kumar has repeatedly stepped in to streamline operations or prevent embarrassment within the department.
Transfers and Standard Rules
When complaints regarding lucrative transfers reached him, the CM instituted a system ensuring that departmental transfers would take place in June every year, with ministers executing the orders. Guidelines were issued across all departments to rotate officials stationed at the same position for over three years. However, in the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, Nitish Kumar’s intervention continued to be a regular feature. Both RJD and BJP ministers have found themselves on the receiving end of his decisive actions.
RJD Minister Under Scrutiny
In 2023, during the tenure of RJD quota minister Alok Mehta, transfer orders for 480 officials in the Revenue and Land Reforms Department had to be cancelled. Complaints of massive financial irregularities in these transfers reached the CM, prompting him to review the decision and issue a fresh notification cancelling the transfers with immediate effect. While the officers were reinstated, the minister faced public embarrassment.
BJP Ministers Also Targeted
Nitish Kumar’s first major intervention was against BJP’s Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Ramnarayan Mandal. Following complaints about CO transfers, the CM ordered a cancellation of all transfers through a fresh notification. Similarly, BJP minister Ramsurat Rai Vrishabh in 2022 faced the CM’s ire when he issued transfer orders for over 200 revenue officers, all of which were subsequently rescinded. These interventions highlighted charges of arbitrariness and ignoring proper procedures.
Is the Deputy CM in the Spotlight?
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is known to rely heavily on bureaucracy while maintaining firm oversight over ministers. In 2024, even JDU’s Social Welfare Minister Madan Sahni had to vacate Patna due to departmental bottlenecks raised by his own officials, though the officials themselves faced no consequences. Likewise, RJD’s Education Minister Prof. Chandrashekhar had to reconcile with his department after raising concerns against his Additional Chief Secretary KK Pathak.
Now, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha appears to be in the spotlight. The question remains: how will CM Nitish Kumar handle this latest challenge, and how will Vijay Kumar Sinha respond to the CM’s scrutiny?