Rise in land prices increase disputes among family members in Andhra Pradesh

Guntur: The surge in land prices at Tullur and adjoining villages in the capital region is leading to clashes among family members. Family bonds and human values are taking a backseat as relatives are trying to deceive or cheat each other.

The revenue and police departments are receiving nearly 50 complaints every day regarding clashes among family members over land in Tullur and other villages in the capital region.

Relatives who had agreed to division of lands several years ago are now demanding redistribution of assets. This is leading to regular clashes and many are worried about relationships getting threatened due to land.

Recently, a senior citizen, V.G. Raju, complained to the police that his children had snatched the pattadar passbooks of his two-acre farmland. He said that he had earlier distributed eight acres of his farmland between four sons and one daughter. His wife had passed away recently and now no one is taking care of him.

When the police questioned the children, they said that their father had several bank deposits but was still trying to sell the two-acre plot. Hence they had taken away the pattadar passbook.

The police settled the matter by counseling the parties and directing the children to look after their father.

A wife recently lodged a complaint against her in-laws alleging injustice during distribution of assets 10 years ago and sought fresh distribution in view of the increased land prices.

Tullur tahsildar M. Sudhirbabu said that complaints about inequitable asset distribution by family members have increased in recent times.

He said that revenue officials were resolving these issues as per law and were also asking family members not to shun social relations for money. Adamant complainants are being asked to approach the courts.

Mr Sudhirbabu added that seven special revenue teams were working for the resolution of land related issues.

R. Raghava, a lawyer from Guntur, also said that cases of land disputes had recently increased in Tullur and adjacent mandals.

Due to increased prices, family members were lodging cases against each other, alleging injustice and asking for revision of past asset distributions.

He added that many NRI children wanted to sell their ancestral farmlands, given the rising prices but their parents were objecting, leading to fresh family disputes.

He pointed out that a farmer could not earn Rs 1 crore in his lifetime, hence the lucrative land prices and dreams of wealth were pitting family members against each other.

Social activist G. Rammohan said that the boom in land prices was spoiling human relations in the capital region as family members were becoming materialistic.

He said that the government should take action to ensure the protection of our “ancient Indian family” traditions.