Landowners flag concern over records

Hyderabad: Concerns over the inclusion of properties under the Section 22A list and the consequent restrictions on land transactions are growing among landowners, farmers, and prospective buyers, all of whom are now seeking greater transparency and clarity in land records.

‘The Hans India’ spoke to people from various walks of life on the underlying issues. They have urged the authorities to verify historical records, correct erroneous entries, protect genuine property rights, and establish a simple, time-bound mechanism to resolve grievances.

Protect genuine owners from wrongful restrictions

The 22A classification is causing serious difficulties for genuine landowners, particularly when they try to sell, mortgage, or develop their properties. In some cases, owners with valid documents are unable to proceed with transactions because of restrictions in the records. Authorities should conduct a comprehensive survey, verify historical and current land records, and promptly correct any erroneous entries. This would protect genuine owners from unnecessary financial and legal hardships.

— Sampath Kumar, Warangal

Ensure clear titles before land purchases

Before purchasing land, buyers need confidence that the property has a clear and legally valid title. The government should strengthen the online land records system and provide an easily accessible facility to verify whether a particular survey number is included under Section 22-A restrictions. Such transparency would help prospective buyers make informed decisions, avoid being fobbed off with disputed properties, prevent financial losses, and reduce unnecessary complications during registration and subsequent transactions.

— Manjudebhi, Rangareddy

Protect farmers from unjust 22-A curbs

Agricultural lands should not be unnecessarily brought under 22A restrictions, particularly when farmers have been cultivating and depending on these lands for many years. Such classifications can affect their livelihoods and create difficulties in accessing transactions or loans. Before placing land under restrictions, officials should carefully examine historical revenue records, ownership documents, cultivation details, and the ground realities. A fair verification process would protect genuine farmers while safeguarding government and assigned lands.

— Vedha Prakash, Hyderabad

Ensure time-bound resolution of problems

There should be a clear and fixed timeline for resolving objections and grievances related to 22A lands. Genuine landowners should not be forced to visit multiple government offices repeatedly for document verification and clarification. Authorities should introduce a simple, transparent and time-bound process, preferably through an online system, to receive applications, track their status, and communicate decisions. This would reduce delays, inconvenience, and unnecessary expenses for affected landowners.

— Shyam, Pedapally

Balance public protection with private rights

The government has a duty to safeguard public and assigned lands, but the rights of genuine private property owners must also be protected. Many landowners face difficulties when their properties are included in the 22A list without adequate clarification. Authorities should conduct a transparent, document-based review by competent officials, examine each case on its merits, and provide timely decisions. This balanced approach can resolve disputes while ensuring that neither public interests nor legitimate private ownership rights are compromised.

— Paidakula Bikshapathi, Karimnagar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gouda Swiyachandra

Gouda Swiyachandra