ECHO OF CORRUPTION IN ARA SADAR DCLR COURT

ECHO OF CORRUPTION IN ARA SADAR DCLR COURT

28-JUNE-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------Ara Sadar DCLR Court of Bhojpur district is considered a temple of justice for the common people, where people reach with the hope of getting a solution to their problems related to land and property. But the revelations that have come to light about this judicial institution in the recent past are not only shocking, but are also raising serious questions on the functioning of the entire administrative system.

According to the local people, no file moves forward in the DCLR court without giving bribe. The penetration of brokers in land related matters like mutation, demarcation, partition has become so deep that they have now become a part of the 'informal system' of this court. These brokers play the role of middlemen between the court employees and the aggrieved party, and charge a hefty amount in return.

Many people from rural areas told that without paying any money, the file remains pending for months, and when someone talks about the process 'as per rules', he is tired by giving evasive and confusing information.

Some officers and employees working in Ara Sadar DCLR Court are being directly accused of deliberately keeping the files pending so that the aggrieved party is ultimately forced to pay bribe. A well-organized 'syndicate' is working behind this which collects money through brokers and 'promises' to speed up the files.

This situation points towards administrative negligence or collusion. If this is not curbed in time, it will destroy the trust of the general public on the justice system.

The Bihar government has repeatedly been claiming 'good governance' and transparent administration, but when the roots of the administrative unit itself are rotten in corruption, then keeping silence on it raises questions on the intentions of the government.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Revenue and Land Reforms Minister, and senior officials of the district are still silent on this serious matter. The question of the public is whether this darkness of corruption will be ignored like this?

The people of Bhojpur are no longer in a mood to sit silent. Voices are getting louder against the corruption prevailing in Ara Sadar DCLR Court. Local social workers, advocates, farmers' organizations and common citizens have put forward some important demands:

1. The court process should be made completely digital and transparent. 2. Corrupt employees and brokers should be identified and strict action should be taken against them. 3. Helpline numbers and online complaint resolution portals should be established for the public. 4. The physical interface should be minimized by improving the functionality of RTPS and Bhoomi portal.

The general public who approach the court for their rights is now being cheated the most there. This situation is not only sad, but against the spirit of the Constitution and democracy.