Patna: The Bihar Revenue Service Association (BiRSA) on Wednesday resumed Right to Public Services (RTPS) services following assurances from the state govt over the Mushahari incident, but decided to keep the use of dongles for online land mutation and Parimarjan Plus work suspended until standard operating procedures (SOPs) are issued.The decision follows the arrest of Mushahari circle officer Mahendra Shukla and revenue officer Karun Karan in Muzaffarpur. Both officers were granted bail on Tuesday.In a statement, BiRSA said RTPS services were being resumed in the larger public interest, particularly as candidates applying for the upcoming TRE-4 examination require essential certificates, including Non-Creamy Layer and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificates. Such documents are also needed for accessing educational, medical and other govt benefits.Revenue officers will continue using dongles to process and issue RTPS certificates as per prescribed rules. However, their use for mutation, Parimarjan Plus and related land-record operations will remain suspended until the home and revenue departments issue clear guidelines, it said.The association said the Mushahari incident had raised concerns over police action against revenue officials performing quasi-judicial functions and the legal safeguards available to them. It maintained that statutory remedies were available against mutation orders and that disagreement with an official order should be distinguished from criminal misconduct or corruption.According to BiRSA, the govt has assured a review of the procedures followed in registering the FIR and making the arrests and promised necessary legal steps to seek quashing of the FIR.The association sought detailed SOPs for land-record verification, field inspections, correction of errors and resolution of disputed jamabandis. It warned that correcting khata, khesra and land-area entries without examining original records could trigger disputes and jeopardise landowners’ rights.BiRSA said it would not defend corruption and sought impartial investigation and action wherever evidence of wrongdoing emerged. It also called for a time-bound and reliable Record of Rights for Bihar, stressing that public services should continue while officials are held accountable under clear legal procedures.
