Government orders probe, registration of freehold lands in abeyance: Sisodia

VIJAYAWADA: Taking the complaints about land grabbing and illegal conversion of land registrations into serious consideration, the state has decided to conduct a comprehensive probe into all the irregularities that took place during the previous YSRCP regime. The government had also decided to keep all the registrations covering the lands under 22-A (prohibitory lists) and assigned lands under abeyance till the completion of the probe.

“The government has recognized the need for a thorough investigation into the conversion of land into freehold, along with any instances of land grabbing, to verify the genuineness and legality of these conversions. This verification process is expected to be completed within three months of time frame. All the registrations of freehold lands will be kept under abeyance till the completion of investigation,” said revenue special chief secretary RP Sisodia.

Sisodia in a memo issued on Saturday asked the district collectors to undertake this investigation through appropriate agencies. If any case of conversion and the consequent effecting of transaction is found illegal, such conversions shall be nullified and the lands so converted reclassified as prohibited properties to prevent further registrations that might create third-party interests, until a final decision is made by the government.

Furthermore, for lands converted to freehold under G.O MS. No.596 of the Revenue (Lands-I) department in December 2023, which have not yet been registered or had any transactions so far, the registration process shall be kept in abeyance to prevent further registrations that could create third-party interests. “Any document presented for registration must be held in abeyance/kept pending until the government reaches a final decision. Registration of prohibited lands that have been converted to freehold will not be allowed until the district collector issues written permission. The district collector will also ensure that documents presented for registration, but kept pending by the sub registrar, are re-examined and investigated at the field level by revenue and survey department officials, in accordance with the applicable Acts and Rules, before a report is submitted to the government for each case of land conversion to freehold,” said Sisodia.

He said that it has come to notice of government that numerous complaints have been filed concerning irregularities have been committed while making these lands freehold without adhering to the required rules and procedures under the applicable Acts and Rules. Specifically, there have been instances where freehold rights on the land were conferred upon ineligible persons, with lands being converted to freehold in violation of the legislative intent under Section 22-A of the Registration Act 1908 and the AP Assigned Lands POT Act (9/77), and in violation of the relevant Board Standing Orders (BSOs). The district collector shall also decide and report to the govt as to whether to continue prohibiting registration of irregularly converted lands by renotifying them under Section 22-A of the Registration Act and informing the registration department accordingly.

In the property data entry process, if the land is classified as freehold, the registration process shall remain pending until the government takes a final decision, as these properties require thorough scrutiny under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908, and other relevant laws. Documents already submitted for registration shall be assigned a pending number without completing the registration process, and the particulars shall be reported to the district collector for a decision.

All district registrars and sub-registrars are required to verify the lists of prohibited properties notified under Section 22-A of the registration Act prior to the enforcement of Act No. 35 of 2023 and G.O.Ms.No.596, Revenue (Lands-I) issued in December, 2023. “Regardless of whether the lands have been denotified, any document presented for registration concerning such lands must be kept pending, and officials concerned will be held personally responsible for any violation of these instructions,” said special chief secretary.

Any irregularities or illegalities detected in lands covered under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, or any omission or commission identified after due scrutiny after April, 2019, it must be reported to the district collector immediately for appropriate legal action. In such cases, the land survey numbers will remain under prohibition of registration following orders from the district collector. For lands converted to freehold under court directives, the district collector must take necessary action in consultation with the government pleader concerned in order to avoid any legal complications.

“All district collectors, RDOs, MROs, DIGs, DRs, and sub registrars in the state are instructed to strictly adhere to these instructions, failing which disciplinary action shall be taken against any officials who deviate from them. All district collectors are requested to review these instructions with the district registrars under their jurisdiction to ensure compliance,” asked Sisodia.


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