The Bihar Legislative Council recently addressed the longstanding matter of Bettiah Raj lands, focusing on land ownership, tax collection, and the utilization of royal estate land for public purposes. RJD MLC Saurabh Kumar raised concerns about the Bihar government’s collection of land revenue and issuance of receipts for Bettiah Raj lands dating back to 1952. He highlighted the historical background of Bettiah Raj as a princely estate that was later divided into East Champaran and West Champaran.
Saurabh Kumar explained that the estate, initially owned by a king, underwent changes after his demise, leading to some land being donated to the public while the rest was acquired. During the British era, certain parcels were allocated to British individuals and subsequently transferred to farmers. Notably, it was only in 2024 that these lands were officially integrated into the Bihar government’s possession.
The discussion also touched upon the presence of government hospitals and colleges on Bettiah Raj lands, questioning the legality of their operation and whether rent should have been paid until 2024. Moreover, objections were raised regarding the renaming of institutions in 2014 that were previously named after the king and queen of Bettiah Raj. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha acknowledged the complexity of the issue, emphasizing the ongoing drafting of regulations related to the Bettiah Raj Act.
Vijay Sinha assured that the formulation of new rules would facilitate the resolution of claims and objections through a structured process. He underscored the government’s commitment to addressing encroachments on Bettiah Raj properties, with directives issued to the concerned Collector for their removal. Additionally, he pledged imminent legislative action to comprehensively resolve the matter.
