Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has transferred the crucial Home Ministry to his deputy, BJP leader Samrat Choudhary, marking a significant shift in the state’s political landscape. In the new cabinet portfolios that were announced on Friday, Choudhary, who continues as Deputy Chief Minister, was given the charge of Home Department. This post was long held by Nitish Kumar, who earned the nickname “Sushasan Babu” for his governance. This marks the first time in two decades that Kumar will not hold the Home portfolio in Bihar.
What powers does Bihar Home Minister hold?
Home Department plays a key role in administration and is considered bedrock of police administration. This Department oversees the maintenance of law and order; prevention and control of crimes; prosecution of criminals besides dealing with fire services and prisons administration, crime control, police modernisation, maintenance of communal harmony, passport/visa formalities to foreign/Indian nationals, control over private security agencies etc. This implies that Samrat Choudhary, as the Home Minister will be looking at all these functions.
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What falls under Samrat Chaudhary's authority?
As the Bihar Home Minister, Choudhary will also supervise anti naxal operations carried out by the State Police and CAPFs. Other important functions of Home department include providing ex-gratia payment and other benefits to police personnels and civilians killed in naxal violence, welfare services to ex-servicemen and their dependents through Sainik Kalyan Directorate, security cover to VIP/VVIPs as well as important GovtPSU establishments.
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Choudhary would also be keeping close liaison with Defence Services of Military and Civil Co-operation and for setting up of defence projects in the State. As the Home Minister, Choudhary’s main responsibility will be to make decisions regarding the peace of the state and the enforcement of law and policy related actions of police, to prepare the budget and after the approval of the legislature, to release of the funds, to refer the case to CID/CBI, to take decision on prosecution against the guilty, to extend area of arms licences.
He will also monitor the cases received from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), dispose the tasks related to the State Human Rights Commission, answer questions in the Assembly/Legislative Council, coordinate the police related matters with the India government and execution of law and order in the state.
Director General of Police, DG-cum-Commandent General (Home Guard & Fire Services), Inspector General of Prisons, Director (Prosecution) and Director (Sainik Kalyan) are posted at the level of Head of the department.