PATNA/MUNGER:, April 5 -- Bihar deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Saturday defended his decision to clear a controversial file transferring posts from the Bihar Revenue Service (BRS) to Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) officers, saying he acted solely on instructions from the Chief Minister's Office. Speaking at a Jan Samvaad (public dialogue) programme on land reforms here, Sinha, who also holds the revenue and land reforms portfolio, said the file was placed before him by principal secretary CK Anil, who cited pressure from the CM's office. He categorically denied any role for his personal assistant, who belongs to the BAS cadre. "I cannot object to or question the discretion of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, under whose leadership the state has made all-round progress," Sinha said. He, however, hinted at a possible attempt to undermine the department's ongoing efforts to fix chronic problems in land records, mutations and measurements. These services have been severely disrupted since revenue officers and circle officers began mass casual leave on March 9. The strike has badly hit the government's ambitious mega revenue campaign, under which more than 40 lakh applications for correction of land records, six lakh mutation cases and thousands of land measurement requests were to be disposed of by the end of March. Despite the turmoil, Sinha struck a firm note on the land reform drive. "The land reform campaign will not stop under any circumstances. The government will take strict action against land mafias and those spreading anarchy," he declared. Addressing a large gathering at the Munger Praksha Grih, he described land disputes as a "stain" on Bihar that often dragged on for generations, affecting not just two individuals but entire families and villages. Sinha said the Jan Samvaad meetings were a direct link between the government and the people. Over 15,000 complaints have already been received and are being monitored digitally. He warned that anyone illegally occupying government or poor people's land would face FIRs and legal action, irrespective of their influence. Officers found indulging in corruption or unnecessary delays in land cases would also be punished, he added. He also dismissed rumours about his personal staff's involvement in certain decisions, calling them "fabricated stories" meant to mislead. P3...