Bhu Bharati struggles to deliver promised justice to farmers

A year after the Bhu Bharati Act rollout, land disputes in Telangana remain unresolved, with rising rejections and administrative confusion. Farmers continue to face difficulties due to unclear rules, lack of legal support systems and discrepancies in land records

Hyderabad: A year after the rollout of the Bhu Bharati Act, the Congress government appears to be struggling to deliver on its core promise of resolving long-pending land disputes and simplifying the system for farmers. While the government assured a transparent and farmer-friendly framework, field reports and feedback from revenue authorities suggest that the situation has worsened.

Despite lakhs of applications being filed during Revenue Sadassus and through official channels, a large number of them remain unresolved. Rejections have outpaced approvals, raising concerns that the government has focused more on clearing dashboards than delivering justice on the ground. Many farmers continue to run from office to office over basic issues such as missing survey numbers, incorrect land extents and classification disputes.

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At the heart of the problem lies a clear disconnect between the law and its implementation. While the Act itself is seen as progressive, the rules and guidelines framed under it appear inconsistent and unclear. Officials at different levels remain confused about their roles. Tahsildars reportedly lack authority, while District Collectors continue to centralise decision-making, leading to delays even in minor cases.

The absence of a functional appellate mechanism has further deepened the crisis. Though the Act provides for appeals, the system exists largely on paper, with no clear procedures or operational guidelines. Ironically, strict deadlines for filing appeals remain in place, leaving affected farmers with little recourse.

Equally troubling is the failure to establish the promised legal support systems. The Act envisaged dedicated legal cells to assist poor farmers in resolving disputes. Even a year later, there is no sign of such mechanisms being set up.

Data discrepancies in Revenue Survey Records (RSR) have emerged as another major pain point. Applications citing “RSR mismatch” are being routinely rejected, even when supported by sale deeds, mutation records and passbooks. In several cases, outdated records like Khasra Pahani and Sethwar, which date back decades, are being used to block transactions on lands that are long recognised as private property and have passbooks.

The result is widespread distress. Genuine beneficiaries are being denied land rights and welfare schemes, while ineligible occupants continue to exploit loopholes due to administrative inaction.