The Telangana Legislative Assembly witnessed repeated disruptions as opposition legislators pressed for a full discussion on the controversial Section 22A prohibited lands issue. The matter has triggered widespread anxiety among property owners whose lands and houses have been listed under the prohibited category, blocking registrations, sales, mortgages and transfers.
Section 22A of the Registration Act empowers the state government to notify certain categories of land where registration of documents is prohibited. These typically include government lands, forest lands, endowment and wakf properties, assigned lands, water bodies and other protected public assets. The provision is intended to prevent illegal transfers and safeguard public property
Problems arose when entire survey numbers containing a mix of government and private holdings were placed on the prohibited list. As a result, many genuine private patta lands, residential plots and houses — some with approved layouts from HMDA, GHMC or DTCP — became non-transferable, leaving owners unable to sell, mortgage or transfer their properties.
Opposition Demands and Protests
Opposition parties, particularly the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have accused the Congress government of irregularities and arbitrary inclusions. BRS leaders, led by T. Harish Rao, demanded a judicial probe, a white paper on the 22A list, and the immediate removal of genuine private properties. They also called for the resignation of Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and warned of Assembly disruptions and protests if relief was not provided.
The BJP similarly threatened protests and an Assembly siege, alleging anomalies in land records and lack of transparency. Affected citizens and real-estate associations staged demonstrations outside sub-registrar offices and approached opposition parties seeking redress.
Government’s Response
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy have maintained that the 22A system has existed since 2007 (from the undivided Andhra Pradesh period) and was continued under the previous BRS government. They assert that the present government has not deliberately added private land to the list and has, in fact, reduced the overall extent under prohibition
In the Assembly, the Chief Minister delivered a detailed explanation, attributing many inclusions to clerical errors, technical issues and the lack of proper sub-division of survey numbers by successive governments. He announced a 12-point action plan and the constitution of a high-level committee headed by Chief Commissioner of Land Administration D.S. Lokesh Kumar, with the Law Secretary and Inspector General of Registration and Stamps as members. The panel has been tasked with examining complaints and recommending solutions within a month so that genuine landowners are not adversely affected
The government has also begun regularisation processes for certain colonies and layouts that received prior approvals, and has set up mechanisms to review pending applications.
The controversy has particularly affected urban and peri-urban areas around Hyderabad, including Medchal-Malkajgiri, Rangareddy, Sangareddy and parts of the city itself. Thousands of families have reported difficulties in property transactions, bank loans and welfare benefits linked to clear title.
While the government insists it is protecting public land while correcting genuine errors, the opposition continues to demand faster, transparent and automatic delisting of private properties without requiring individual applications. The high-level committee’s recommendations and further Assembly discussions are expected to shape the next steps in resolving this long-standing land administration challenge.
The 22A issue underscores the complexities of land records in Telangana and the urgent need for accurate, accessible and fair systems that protect both public assets and the rights of genuine property owners.