Two Bihar Zonal Officers Suspended for Mishandling Housing Program Applications

In a review meeting of the works of state level Additional Collectors/ Land Reform Deputy Collectors/ Zonal Officers held in Patna on May 8 under the chairmanship of Revenue and Land Reform Minister Sanjay Saraogi, the Zonal Officer of Bagha-2 Zone and the Revenue Officer of Jagdishpur Zone have been suspended for providing incorrect information during the review of Abhiyan Basera-2.

In the course of review of Abhiyan Basera-2, out of the total 1912 eligible category landless families surveyed under Bagha 2, 1709 were declared ineligible, regarding which Mr. Nikhil, Zonal Officer, Bagha-02, West Champaran informed that most of them have been declared ineligible on the basis of the report of the revenue employee.

The report of the revenue employee should have been verified by them, which was not done by them. Some Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe applications have also been declared ineligible by mentioning that the applicant does not belong to the eligible category, which is contradictory. Without conducting any investigation in this regard, Shri Nikhil has been declared ineligible only on the basis of the employee's report.

During the review, it was found that Shri Nikhil has shown indifference, laxity and negligence towards the very important and welfare scheme of the state government like Abhiyan Basera and has tried to mislead the department with wrong and misleading information.

Shri Nikhil, Zonal Officer, Bagaha-02. West Champaran has been suspended for laxity and negligence.

At the same time, in relation to the declaration of 689 ineligible out of the total surveyed 764 eligible category homeless families under Jagdishpur Zone of Bhagalpur, Shri Nagendra Kumar, Revenue Officer, Zonal Office, Jagdishpur, Bhagalpur, told that most of the cases declared ineligible are related to the urban area, whereas according to the departmental portal, the above cases have been found to be related to the rural area. During the review, it was found that Shri Kumar has also been lax and negligent in Abhiyan Basera-2.0 and has tried to mislead the department with wrong and misleading information. This shows insensitivity towards the deprived section of the society.

Shri Nagendra Kumar, Revenue Officer, Zonal Office, Jagdishpur, Bhagalpur has also been suspended.

Minister Sanjay Saraogi said that the strictest punishment will be given for indifference towards the deprived sections of the society.

The Additional Chief Secretary has requested all the District Magistrates to get the ineligible beneficiaries investigated by senior officials and allot housing land to them as soon as possible.