PATNA, June 27 -- In a significant step that could bring relief to thousands of families across Bihar, the state's revenue and land reforms department is preparing to convert leased Khasmahal land into freehold property, giving legitimate occupants clear ownership rights. The move aims to resolve long-standing issues related to these colonial-era leases, allowing people to fully utilise or sell their properties without restrictions. Khasmahal land refers to government property that was leased out during the British period, primarily in the early 20th century, to officials, doctors, lawyers, judges and other influential figures for residential use. Leases ranged from 33 years to perpetual terms. Over time, many plots passed down through generations, but the lack of full ownership has created hurdles in getting loans, making improvements or transferring property. According to officials, more than 3,700 acres of such land exist across 12 districts, with around 500 acres in Patna alone. Key areas in the capital like Kadam Kuan, parts of Patna City, Buddha Marg-Mandiri, Dak Bungalow and Postal Park sit on these plots. In Patna district specifically, about 136 acres originally leased to around 632 people decades ago are under consideration. Revenue and land reforms minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal said the department plans to hold consultations with stakeholders and lessees after August 15 to finalise a one-time settlement package. "We want to settle the issue once and for all," Jaiswal told HT. The policy is expected to allow original lessees or their descendants who have lived on these plots for generations to register full ownership upon payment of a portion of the current market value. A senior officer explained the challenges: "Many lease agreements have expired or faced technical problems, while some were renewed. People have struggled to use or dispose of the land properly because they don't have a complete title." The proposed framework focuses on genuine long-term occupants while addressing violations. Notable properties built on Khasmahal land include the houses of former Patna mayor Krishna Nandan Sahay, actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, renowned paediatrician Lala Surajnandan Prasad (founder of the paediatrics department at Patna Medical College and Hospital), former chief ministers Anugrah Narayan Singh and Satyendra Sinha and several serving and retired judges of the Patna High Court and Supreme Court. This highlights how deeply these lands are woven into the social and political fabric of the state. According to another official, around 30-40% of these plots are caught in litigation, as the leases have sold out the property without proper permissions or valid documents. In many cases, buyers, who purchased via stamp papers, found themselves in legal battles after the district authorities cracked whips on them for lease violations. Hundreds of families of Kadam Kuan and other areas have been fighting court cases for decades over transfers that breached original residential-use conditions. Some persons were facing heat from the district administration as they used the residential lands for commercial activities like hotels and shops, which go against lease terms. The districts covered include Patna, Bhojpur, Munger, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, West Champaran, Katihar, Purnea, Kisanganj and Rohtas. The government is expected to seek applications from current possessors with proof of physical possession and valid transactions. A competent authority will resolve disputes based on legal evidence. The official said that the department might levy a certain amount of the market value of their land as per the localities, similar to practices followed by the Bihar state housing board, for transferring the full ownership of the plots. This initiative comes alongside other department efforts, including land distribution under campaigns like Basera and digitisation drives to reduce middlemen and irregularities. For many middle-class and elite families in Patna and elsewhere who have called these plots home for 75 to 100 years, the policy could finally unlock the full economic potential of their properties and end years of uncertainty....