Telangana Opens Registration for Approved Section 22-A Properties

On Thursday, September 24, 2026, the Telangana government announced a major relief for property owners, allowing the registration of open plots, houses, and flats currently stuck on the prohibited Section 22-A list, provided they possess valid statutory permissions. This move unlocks thousands of stalled transactions across the state, though officials clarified that while eligible properties can now be registered, they will remain on the prohibited list until separately cleared.

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy stated that the decision aims to resolve long-standing hurdles for buyers and sellers who had secured legal approvals but were inexplicably blocked at the registration office. The fast-track action plan follows a recent assurance made by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in the Legislative Assembly.

Valid Statutory Approvals Now Unlock Registration

The state’s new directive creates a specific pathway for property owners to bypass the Section 22-A block if they have previously done everything by the book. According to the announcement, if an open plot, house, or apartment has secured a layout, building-construction, or apartment permission from competent authorities like the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), or the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), it is now eligible for registration.

However, the government has attached a strict document condition to this relief. Applicants must submit link documents relating to a property transaction that was officially registered after the relevant statutory permission was obtained. This condition ensures that the chain of title reflects the legal development of the property following its approval.

Local registration offices have been instructed to process these transactions provided the paperwork aligns with the new guidelines, easing a massive backlog of real estate deals that had been indefinitely paused.

What This Means for Buyers and Sellers of 22-A Properties

For prospective sellers, this announcement restores the ability to monetize assets that were previously frozen. Many property owners had invested their life savings into approved projects, only to find later that their land parcels had been swept up in the Section 22-A prohibited list, rendering them unsellable.

For buyers, this opens up access to transactions that were previously blocked. However, buyers should diligently verify the seller’s documentation before proceeding. Checking the Bhu Bharati Portal for broader land record transparency can help ensure the underlying title history aligns with the seller’s claims.

It is equally important for owners to ensure their layout or building permissions are fully valid and that they have assembled the required post-approval registration records. Checking the Record of Rights Telangana can further assist buyers in understanding the property’s historical ownership chain before submitting documents to the sub-registrar.

Impact on Hyderabad and Surrounding District Transactions

The policy change is particularly relevant across Hyderabad and its rapidly expanding surrounding districts. In these high-growth corridors, countless properties approved by major civic bodies like the GHMC and HMDA nevertheless faced rigid registration barriers under the 22-A classification, often due to overlapping revenue claims or legacy land disputes.

By distinguishing between the legal structures built on the land and the underlying revenue disputes, the state is effectively unblocking urban real estate markets in prime areas. Buyers and developers in the capital region can now proceed with previously stalled projects, provided local body approvals are intact.

“The government is addressing long-standing Section 22-A issues through a fast-track action plan, following the Chief Minister’s Assembly assurance.”

Origins of the Section 22-A Registration Block

Section 22-A of the Registration Act was originally designed to protect government, endowment, and waqf lands by providing a mechanism to notify categories of property whose registration is strictly prohibited. However, in Telangana, implementation issues led to widespread reports of registration obstacles even for private properties that had already received formal approvals from planning or local authorities.

The friction between the Revenue Department’s prohibited lists and the Municipal Administration’s approved layouts caused significant distress among the public. Acknowledging this, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy issued an assurance in the Legislative Assembly on September 16, promising immediate remedial action. This week’s announcement is the direct fulfillment of that fast-track action plan.

Implementation by New District-Level Committees

To ensure the new registration route operates smoothly and to handle inevitable implementation hurdles, the state government has mandated the formation of district-level committees. These panels are specifically designed to address registration-related problems on the ground.

Each committee will feature high-ranking district officials, including the District Collector, the Additional Collector (local bodies), the District Registrar, and designated representatives of the relevant planning authority or local body. Their diverse composition ensures that both revenue and municipal perspectives are considered when resolving disputed cases or processing complex document trails.