Section 22A: Owners Seek Removal of Lands From Prohibited List, Warn of Protest

TIRUPATI: Representatives of the Centre for Liberty, along with property owners, whose lands are included in the prohibited list under Section 22A of the Registration Act, have demanded removal of their lands from the list. They alleged that these properties have been included in the prohibited list during the digitisation of land records without prior notice.

Addressing a press meet in Tirupati on Tuesday, A.B. Venkateswara Rao, Nalamotu Chakravarthy, Babu Singiri, and N.P. Suresh, representatives of the Centre for Liberty, said lands purchased with lifetime savings have become unusable, as owners are unable to undertake construction, sell, or buy these lands.

They explained that the issue has persisted since 2017, when digitisation of land records led to inclusion of patta lands in the 22A list without informing landowners. A large extent of land across the state has been impacted as a result, leaving families in financial and legal uncertainty, they added.

Land owners at the press meet said they have been making repeated visits to revenue offices for years without resolution of their problem. They urged the government to address the issue on priority and restore their property rights.

The representatives demanded that all lands added to the 22A list since 2010 without prior notice should be removed from the list unconditionally. They said if there are any such lands belonging to the government or temples, they may be reclassified only after issuing notices to their owners and following due legal procedure.

They announced the establishment of a Property Rights Centre in Tirupati to provide legal and advisory support to affected persons. They appealed to retired officials and legal experts to extend their services.

Warning of further action, they said victims across the state would be mobilised for a protest if the government fails to address their demands.