HC records govt move to create special panel on land prohibition disputes

Telangana HC recorded the state’s creation of a three-member panel to handle Section 22-A land prohibition disputes. Justice Anil Kumar warned the Chief Secretary to ensure compliance or face personal appearance

By Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Justice Jukanti Anil Kumar of the Telangana High Court on Monday recorded the state government’s submission that a special mechanism has now been created to address thousands of land disputes linked to the prohibition list notified under Section 22-A of the Stamps and Registration Act.

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Government Pleader for Revenue Katram Muralidhar Reddy produced before the court GO Ms No. 98 dated August 23, 2025, which constituted a three-member high-level committee. The panel will be chaired by the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration, with a retired district judge to be appointed by the state as a member, and the Commissioner of Survey and Settlements as the member-convenor.

According to the GO, the committee is empowered to examine records and pass reasoned orders either confirming, deleting, or modifying entries from the notified prohibition list. Such orders will be binding on both the state and the aggrieved party, who may then approach a competent court if dissatisfied.

The panel has been given a three-year tenure, with a mandate to meet at least once every month.

The development comes after Justice Anil Kumar issued an ultimatum to the Chief Secretary last week, questioning why the state had consistently failed to furnish prohibition lists to sub-registrars despite repeated directions. The judge noted that his court alone was handling over 5,100 petitions from citizens whose documents were refused registration by sub-registrars citing Section 22-A.

“Why should people come to know about their land being on the prohibition list only at the registration counter? Why is the state keeping them in the dark, even after a full bench of this Court directed preparation and circulation of such lists a decade ago?” Justice Anil Kumar asked in sharp observations.

While taking on record the government’s decision to constitute the committee, the judge stressed that “this should not remain on paper” and demanded proof of implementation. He directed the Chief Secretary to instruct all District Collectors to prepare fresh prohibition lists and communicate them to every sub-registrar in the state within nine weeks.

The Chief Secretary has been asked to file an affidavit within 10 days, confirming whether the task has been entrusted to collectors and whether work has commenced. Justice Anil Kumar cautioned that if the directive is not complied with, the Chief Secretary must personally appear before the court on September 3 and explain the lapse.