Patna: Revenue and land reforms department minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal on Tuesday accused opposition members of suffering from a “phobia” over every move by the govt to raise revenue through taxes and fees, saying additional resources were needed to fund development works.The remarks came during the passage of the Bihar Land Mutation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which introduces a fee of Rs 200 on applications for land mutation, appeals against errors and revision of land records. The House passed the Bill by voice vote under Speaker Prem Kumar.Earlier, RJD member Rahul Kumar and AIMIM member Akhtarul Iman had moved amendments to the Bill, arguing that the govt was already collecting various land-related taxes. Rahul said there was no need to levy fresh charges on applications for mutation, appeals or correction of records.In a lighter vein, Iman remarked that Jaiswal had brought the Bill on the advice of finance minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, who was grappling with the state’s empty coffers. Yadav and others, including CM Samrat Choudhary, smiled at the quip, but Jaiswal reacted sharply.Accusing opposition members, including Rahul, of having a “phobia against the empty coffers”, Jaiswal said it was “a case of mental illness”.“So many spectacular development activities were being initiated (by CM Samat Choudhary). Did such development work take place in the past 60 years in the state?” Jaiswal asked, adding that such projects required additional resources.The assembly passed seven Bills during the day, including legislation banning gaming activities and the land mutation amendment Bill. Five other amendment Bills dealt with goods and services tax and easing the conversion of agricultural land for industrial and commercial use to improve the ease of doing business and living.The House also cleared Bills aimed at allowing doctors from outside Bihar to practise in the state without local registration. Similar provisions were approved for nurses, removing the requirement of local registration and no-objection certificates from their previous place of work or training.
