Andhra Pradesh Revises Prohibited Land Registration Rules
Why in the News?
The Andhra Pradesh government has removed five categories of land from the prohibited list under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, aiming to protect farmers’ rights, reduce litigation, and provide long-pending relief to genuine landowners. This decision reflects a growing trend towards environmental democracy and improved land governance.
Key Decision: Removal of Lands from 22-A List
- The AP government deleted five categories of land from the prohibited properties list maintained under Section 22-A.
- Private patta lands have been completely removed, enabling hassle-free registration and transactions.
- Revenue officials were directed to take suo motu action to delete such lands once applications are received.
- Lands allotted to serving and retired defence personnel, freedom fighters, and political victims were also excluded from the prohibited list.
- For defence personnel, a recommendation from the District Sainik Welfare Officer will be sufficient proof.
Administrative Relief and Farmer-Friendly Measures
- The decision was described as a “New Year gift” aimed at safeguarding the rights of farmers and landowners.
- The government allowed any one of nearly eight valid documents—such as 10(1) registers, adangals, DKT pattas, Record of Holdings, or registration documents—for deletion from the list.
- Revenue officials were strictly instructed not to harass landowners by demanding unnecessary additional documents, promoting a more transparent and efficient environmental clearance process.
- In cases where only a portion of land in a survey number is disputed, officials must subdivide the land.
- Only the disputed portion will remain under prohibition, while the undisputed land will be released for registration, demonstrating a balanced approach to land management and environmental protection.
About Section 22-A of Registration Act: |
| ● Section 22-A of the Registration Act empowers States to notify categories of land where registration is prohibited to prevent fraud and illegal transfers. |
| ● Typically includes government lands, assigned lands, ceiling surplus lands, and lands under legal dispute. |
| ● While intended to protect public interest, misuse has often caused delays, litigation, and hardship for genuine landowners. |
| ● States periodically revise the prohibited list to balance land security with ease of property transactions. |
| ● Andhra Pradesh’s move reflects a trend toward land governance reforms, digitisation of records, and farmer-centric administration, aligning with principles of environmental jurisprudence and the polluter pays principle. |
This revision of land registration rules demonstrates a commitment to environmental democracy and sustainable development, considering both ecological and social factors in land management decisions.