Orders issued keeping registration of ‘freehold lands’ in abeyance i Andhra Pradesh

Orders issued keeping registration of ‘freehold lands’ in abeyance in Andhra Pradesh. The government has also ordered that any irregularity or illegality detected in the lands covered under Section 22-A from April 1, 2019, be reported to the district Collector for appropriate legal action. Numerous complaints have been filed concerning irregularities committed while making lands freehold, without adhering to the rules and procedures under the applicable Acts. says R.P. Sisodia, Special Chief Secretary, Revenue.

The Andhra Pradesh Revenue (Registration) Department, following the instructions from the State Cabinet, has directed the district Collectors to keep the registration of all “freehold lands” in abeyance with effect from August 10.

The government further instructed that from April 1, 2019, any irregularity or illegality detected in the lands covered under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, or any omission or commission identified after due scrutiny, be reported to the district Collector immediately for appropriate legal action. In such cases, the land survey numbers would remain under prohibition of registration following orders from the district Collector.

“Through G.O. Ms. No. 596, Revenue (Lands-I) Department, dated December 19, 2023, the government issued a notification regarding conversion of assigned lands into freehold lands,” R.P. Sisodia, Special Chief Secretary, Revenue Department, told The Hindu on August 10 (Saturday).

He said, “Numerous complaints have been filed concerning irregularities committed while making the lands freehold, without adhering to the rules and procedures under the applicable Acts.”

There had been instances where freehold rights were conferred upon ineligible persons in violation of the legislative intent under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908 and the AP Assigned Lands POT Act, and in violation of the relevant Board Standing Orders (BSOs), Mr. Sisodia said.

In certain cases, “communal and poramboke” lands were illegally converted into freehold, taken out of Section 220A(i) list, and registered by fraudulent means, either in favour of individuals, or groups with the intent to seize valuable government lands, he said. “This practice contravenes the spirit of Section 22-A of the Registration Act, the POT Act and the BSOs,” Mr. Sisodia maintained. 

He said the government decided to conduct a thorough inquiry by constituting committees at appropriate levels under the direct supervision of the Collectors concerned.