Harish writes to Rahul Gandhi seeking a judicial inquiry, removal of Revenue Minister

T. Harish Rao, deputy floor leader for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, has penned a letter to Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleging widespread irregularities in the implementation of Section 22A of India's Registration Act, 1908 in the state of Telangana. In his letter, Rao seeks the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry headed by a retired High Court judge to investigate the matter.

Rao claims that the Revenue and Registration machinery has been misused to classify various types of private properties as government or ceiling-surplus lands, thus hindering registration and property transactions. He alleges that thousands of properties, particularly in Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Ranga Reddy, and Sangareddy districts, have been brought under the prohibited-properties regime.

This classification is said to have occurred following the reclassification of properties previously regularised under the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) framework, creating uncertainty over ownership and affecting the marketability of these properties.

Rao holds Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy accountable for these alleged irregularities. He expects Reddy to have ensured transparency in the additions and deletions made under Section 22A of the Registration Act, protect property owners, investigate allegations of illegal collections, and take action against intermediaries involved in the clearance process.

Additionally, Rao accuses Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of failing to fulfil his responsibility in ensuring adequate oversight and ordering an independent anti-corruption investigation, despite public concerns and ongoing legal proceedings related to land and registration issues.