Bettiah Raj land vesting: Bihar notifies 974.50 acres across 224 plots

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The Bihar government has vested 974.50 acres of Bettiah Raj land in East Champaran, the Department of Revenue and Land Reforms announced on November 15, 2026. The notification covers 224 plots across three mauzas — Jhakhra, Fursatpur and Bairiya — and brings the properties under state control for public welfare.

Interested parties will have 60 days to file objections. District-level special officers, who will have powers equivalent to a civil court, will dispose of cases within a maximum of 90 days, officials said. If no objection is received or objections are rejected, the collector will take steps to secure effective possession.

The occupancy framework uses 1 January 1986 as the cutoff date and recognises 40 years of effective possession as a standard. Occupants who were in possession before the cutoff and produce valid documents will be offered full ownership on payment of a prescribed amount. Those who occupied after 1 January 1986 without valid documents will face eviction under the Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956. The government said it will seek technical assistance from experts and archaeological institutions to preserve heritage properties.

Bettiah Raj land listed across six Bihar districts totals 24,477.14 acres. West Champaran accounts for 16,671.91 acres, East Champaran for 7,640.91 acres, Saran for 109.96 acres, Siwan for 7.29 acres, Gopalganj for 35.58 acres and Patna for 11.49 acres.

What was the Bihar Land Reforms Act that abolished zamindari?

The Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950 abolished the zamindari system in Bihar and vested intermediary rights in the state. The Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956 provides for the eviction of unauthorised occupants from public land in Bihar.

What is the Bettiah Raj and why is its land being vested?

Bettiah Raj was a large zamindari estate in Bihar whose properties include movable and immovable assets located both within and outside the state. The Bihar government has been working to bring these properties under its control through a legal framework that provides for their management, protection and disposal. The current notification is part of that process and covers only East Champaran; the total listed Bettiah Raj land across six Bihar districts is 24,477.14 acres.

How will occupancy claims be settled?

The framework treats 40 years of effective possession as a standard and fixes 1 January 1986 as the cutoff. Pre-cutoff occupants who produce valid documents will be offered full ownership on payment of a prescribed amount. For occupants lacking both valid documents and proof of long-term possession, eviction proceedings will follow the Bihar Public Land Encroachment Act, 1956. After possession is secured, properties will be classified as heritage assets, government-occupied assets, assets occupied by valid leaseholders and undocumented holdings.