Government Holds 13.82 Lakh Acres Across The State As Per Revenue Records
Survey to determine the status of these land parcels. 12.9 lakh properties figure in prohibitory list. Collectors to physically verify these properties, update list: Reports
HYDERABAD: During recent revenue sadassulu, revenue officials received over 12,000 applications from citizens complaining that their land holdings were wrongly placed in the prohibitory list.
Under Section 22A (1) of the Registration Act, 1908, the government prohibits certain categories of land from registration.
Such properties cannot be sold or transferred without being de-notified and supported by an NOC from the revenue or court authorities.
UMR-: State Govt Orders Updation Of 'Prohibitory Lands' List
The state government has ordered an updation of the ‘prohibitory land’ list across Telangana in the wake of largescale complaints of illegal registrations and encroachments. Officials said the prohibitory list had not been revised since 2013, when the then combined Andhra Pradesh government detected 1.9 crore acres of land under this category.
Following the formation of Telangana in 2014, no fresh exercise was taken up, leading to confusion over which parcels of land are still under the ‘prohibitory’ category, since many land properties were later either added or removed.
This ambiguity is being exploited by land sharks in collusion with certain revenue staff, who are allegedly managing to register prohibited land parcels in their names illegally. The issue came to the fore during the recent revenue sadassulu, conducted after the new Bhu Bharati Act replaced the Dharani system.
Revenue officials reportedly received over 12,000 applications from citizens complaining that their land holdings were wrongly placed in the prohibitory list and sought their removal.
Against this backdrop, the government last week directed all district collectors to take up a comprehensive survey of prohibitory lands and update the records to prevent irregularities.
Unlike earlier when the survey was carried out taking mandals as units, this time the government decided to conduct the exercise village-wise to ensure more accuracy.
According to sources, various departments together hold 13.82 lakh acres as per revenue records. A detailed survey has been ordered to determine the status of these land parcels, to verify how much remains with the government and how much has changed hands due to illegal registrations.
Besides, 12.9 lakh properties figure in the prohibitory list. Collectors have been tasked with physically verifying these properties and preparing an updated list reflecting their exact status.
Under Section 22A (1) of the Registration Act, 1908, the government prohibits certain categories of land from registration. Properties notified under this section cannot be sold or transferred without being first de-notified and supported by a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the competent revenue or court authorities.
Officials stressed that the fresh survey is aimed at plugging loopholes, curbing fraudulent transactions and safeguarding government lands from encroachments.