PATNA, Feb. 3 -- All circle officers (COs) and revenue officers owing allegiance to the Bihar Revenue Service Association (BiRSA) went on an indefinite strike on Monday, in protest against a recent cabinet decision about creation of the post of sub-divisional revenue officers (SDRO) at par with the deputy collector land reforms (DCLR). BiRSA functionaries, including president Anand Kumar, alleged the new post would limit the authority of the officers, as all power relating to resolution of land disputes still rested with the DCLR. "There is no clarity about promotional avenues of revenue officers being posted as the SDROs," he said. Dy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, who also holds the revenue and land reforms portfolio, after meeting with the striking officers said a 3-member committee, comprising principal secretary of the department and a representative of BiRSA, would be formed to look into the matter. Sinha said the government would seriously consider genuine grievances, while expressing respect and support for honest, hardworking employees whose morale should not be undermined. Sinha highlighted the collective responsibility to end land disputes through united efforts, and reaffirmed the government's commitment to build public trust and deliver lasting resolutions to long-standing problems. Although senior officers claimed the COs and revenue officers, totalling around 1,200, had called off the strike after meeting with the DyCM, there was no clarity from the striking officers about their next move till the filing of this report. "We are waiting for the written commitment from the government," said Anand Kumar. The government on the other hand had responded swiftly and firmly. On the very day the strike began, principal secretary of the department, CK Anil, issued a detailed directive to all divisional commissioners, DMs and senior officials in the evening, asking for immediate recovery of government vehicles, office keys and access to record rooms from every officer participating in the strike. It invoked the "no work, no pay" principle, directing that salaries be withheld for the full duration of the absence. The DMs were told to attach block development officers, revenue deputy collectors, deputy collectors land reforms and available executive magistrates to keep essential revenue functions running. The absence was to be treated as unauthorised leave, with original vehicle documents and papers deposited at district headquarters. The letter warned that any disruption to public services would not be tolerated and that alternative staff must be deployed to prevent complete breakdown of pending mutation cases and revenue recovery work. The confrontation has been building for months. Dy CM Sinha has been conducting frequent Janata Darbars in districts across Bihar. He listens to complaints about long-pending land disputes, encroachments and inheritance issues and often passes resolution orders on the spot. Citizens have turned out in large numbers, and many have openly praised Sinha for bypassing years of bureaucratic delay irrespective of caste, community or political affiliation. However, officials have repeatedly complained these instant directions and public rebukes by the minister undermine their position and amount to humiliation. Earlier grievances surfaced when Sinha pushed for faster mutation processing, compulsory online rent receipts and GPS monitoring of field visits by revenue staff on government motorcycles. The association had written to Nitish Kumar in December 2025 highlighting these concerns. The latest cabinet approvals appear to have crossed a red line. Though the government has not yet released full details of decisions 23 and 30 in public, sources indicate they tighten timelines for dispute resolution and restrict offline transactions, measures Sinha has long advocated to curb corruption. As the strike took effect, long queues formed outside several circle offices before staff walked out. Farmers and landowners now face indefinite delays in critical paperwork at a time when seasonal agricultural needs make timely mutations urgent. District administrations began implementing the government's instructions the same evening, with vehicles handed over and duties reassigned. Sinha, described the measures as necessary treatment that sometimes tastes bitter....