Administrative Lapses Lead to Over 20,000 Pending Mutation Cases; Administration Cracks Down on Arbitrary Rejections
Muzaffarpur. The mutation process (Dakhil-Kharij) for land transactions has become a major source of distress for the common citizens of Muzaffarpur. Due to extreme sluggishness in the processing of applications across all 16 blocks of the district, the number of pending cases has crossed the 20,702 mark. Seeing the mounting pile of files and the plight of citizens making repeated rounds of the Circle Offices, the district administration has now adopted a strict stance.
The Growing Mountain of Pending Applications
According to administrative data, the pace of mutation processing has been extremely slow over the past few months. The fact that over 20,702 applications are pending across 16 blocks indicates that administrative efficiency at the level of revenue employees and Circle Officers (COs) has been significantly compromised. Due to these files being stuck for months, landowners are facing severe hardships. Because mutation has not been completed, people are unable to pay land taxes (Lagan Raseed), secure bank loans, or even proceed with land sales in several cases.
Arbitrary Rejection of Applications Becomes a Major Issue
Amidst this administrative lethargy, another serious issue has surfaced—the arbitrary rejection of applications. Many applicants have complained that their applications were "rejected" by the Circle Offices without any technical justification or valid legal reason provided. According to revenue rules, if an application contains errors, the applicant should be given an opportunity to correct them; however, the trend of outright rejection has increased. This not only wastes the time and money of the applicants but also raises serious questions about the transparency of the department.
Administration in 'Action Mode'
Taking this situation seriously, the District Magistrate (DM) has issued a clear warning to all Circle Officers. The key steps initiated by the administration include:
Mandatory Transparency: The DM has directed that before rejecting any application, the valid reason must be recorded on the online portal. Officials who reject applications without citing any deficiency will face disciplinary action.
Time-Bound Disposal: Instructions have been issued to dispose of mutation cases on a 'First-Come, First-Served' basis.
Monitoring Mechanism: To keep track of pending cases, the district headquarters will now directly monitor the online portal. A target has been set for each block, and its progress will be reviewed in weekly meetings.
Fixing Accountability: If applications are found pending without valid reasons in any block, the responsibility will be fixed on the respective revenue employee and the Circle Officer, and they will be required to provide an explanation.
Hope for Relief for Common Citizens
Following this strict stance by the administration, it is expected that the arbitrariness prevalent in the Circle Offices will be curbed. The District Magistrate has also appealed to citizens that if an application has been rejected without a valid reason, they can directly register their complaint with the District Public Grievance Redressal Officer.
This initiative by the Muzaffarpur administration is a significant step toward revenue reforms. Now, it remains to be seen whether there is a genuine change in the functioning of the Circle Offices and if the common people get relief from the complexities of the mutation process.
