Land ownership has become a major political issue in Telangana after a heated debate in the state Legislative Assembly over Section 22-A and the government’s land records.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy raised allegations about land holdings linked to former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), his son K T Rama Rao (KTR), T Harish Rao and other leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Reddy said his government would conduct a survey of KCR’s family properties and submit a report within 30 days.
According to Reddy, KCR’s family members together control around 439 acres across several districts. He also questioned whether some properties included government land and referred to alleged violations of land-ceiling rules. These are allegations made by the Chief Minister, and the affected BRS leaders have disputed them.
The debate began with Section 22-A of the Registration Act, which allows certain categories of land to be placed on a prohibited list. Such land generally cannot be freely sold, purchased or mortgaged through registered transactions. The provision covers categories including government land, assigned land, endowment and Wakf properties, and ceiling-surplus land.
The issue has become a concern for many private landowners because properties placed on the prohibited list can face difficulties with registration and other transactions. The state government has acknowledged that some private properties may have been wrongly included and has promised measures to address such cases.
Reddy has also announced a Special Investigation Team to examine alleged irregularities connected with the Dharani land-record system during the previous BRS government. He has described the allegations as involving a large-scale land racket. The claims are part of an ongoing political dispute and would need to be established through investigation and evidence.
The BRS has rejected the allegations and, in turn, accused the Congress government of mishandling the Section 22-A list. KTR and Harish Rao have demanded greater transparency over how properties were added to or removed from the prohibited list and have called for an independent inquiry.
Harish Rao has also said that his own property details were disclosed in his election affidavits and income-tax records. He has challenged the government to apply the same scrutiny to all sides and has sought a judicial inquiry into the wider land controversy.
The dispute has therefore moved beyond individual allegations and become a wider debate about land records, ownership rights and the functioning of the state’s registration system. The government has proposed new procedures, including additional verification and opportunities for objections before properties are placed on the prohibited list.
The controversy shows how important land records are for property owners, farmers and businesses in Telangana. It also highlights the need for clear records and transparent procedures when ownership or land-use status is changed.