Telangana Gives 45 Days to Resolve Section 22-A Land Cases

Telangana Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has issued a statewide directive requiring district collectors and revenue officials to resolve all pending Section 22-A prohibited land applications within a strict 45-day deadline. Announced this week during a high-level review meeting at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat on August 5, 2026, the order aims to clear prolonged property disputes while protecting government land from illegal encroachments.

Statewide Sweep Ordered for Prohibited Land Disputes

The comprehensive review addressed complaints, media reports, High Court directions, and government policy relating to prohibited properties across the state. Applications received by tahsildars, revenue divisional officers (RDOs), sub-collectors, and district collectors must now be examined individually using land records, factual evidence, and applicable law.

To ensure justice for eligible applicants, authorities have been instructed to prioritize grievances submitted through the state’s Prajavani program. Officials must clearly identify properties eligible for removal from the prohibited list under established legal provisions.

The minister firmly rejected allegations that undisputed private lands had been unjustly targeted, stating that no new land has been added to the prohibited list since the Congress government assumed office.

What the 45-Day Clock Means for Property Owners

The new directive directly impacts owners and claimants whose property has been placed on Telangana’s Section 22-A prohibited list, particularly those seeking the removal of an allegedly incorrect entry.

The mandate also brings relief to buyers, sellers, builders, lenders, and investors whose real estate transactions depend on a property being cleared for registration. Under the prescribed timeline, eligible applicants may receive a formal decision within 45 days, significantly reducing the bureaucratic wait time.

While genuine landowners stand to benefit, authorities will continue to heavily scrutinize claims involving government land to prevent unlawful registrations and illegal transactions.

CURE Jurisdiction and Hyderabad-Area Impact

The initial review at the Secretariat heavily focused on prohibited-land issues within the CURE (Comprehensive Urban Revenue Enforcement) jurisdiction before the minister extended the directions statewide.

Because the CURE framework prominently covers the capital region, Hyderabad-area property owners and transaction parties fall squarely within the order’s scope. While the available reports do not specify a separate Hyderabad-only deadline or property count, local applicants will be processed under the same strict 45-day benchmark.

“All Section 22-A applications and complaints, irrespective of the level at which they are received, should be disposed of within the prescribed timeframe.”

How Section 22-A Restricts Property Registrations

Section 22-A of the Registration Act is a legal provision used to identify categories of land where transactions are restricted or outright prohibited from being registered.

A disputed entry on this list can instantly prevent or delay a sale, mortgage, or other registered transaction. Such freezes remain in place until the relevant authority reviews the official documentation and decides whether the property should remain on the prohibited list or be cleared for transfer.

The current government instruction acts as an administrative enforcement of the 45-day review and decision period previously prescribed by the High Court.

Next Steps for Pending Property Petitions

District collectors have been identified as the primary authorities empowered to conduct detailed inquiries and take final decisions on Section 22-A land cases.

Revenue and stamps-and-registration officials across Telangana are now expected to gather and examine the relevant official records immediately. Property owners with pending petitions should watch for official notices, field inquiries, and final orders from the authority handling their specific case.

The immediate benchmark is the completion of each eligible application within 45 days of receipt or review initiation, though a single statewide calendar date for zero pending cases has not been specified.