District Collector Adarsh Surabhi announced that the government would carefully consider all suggestions provided by the public regarding the amendments to the Telangana Land Rights Record Draft Act 2024. This announcement was made during an awareness conference at the Integrated District Offices Complex (IDOC) meeting hall on Saturday. The conference was attended by various stakeholders, including advocates, farmers’ association leaders, public representatives, and revenue officials.
During the event, Professor Bhuvani Sunil from Nalsar University explained the key elements of the Telangana Land Rights Record Draft Act 2024. He discussed the Dharani portal, which was initially introduced in 2020, and highlighted the need for changes that have led to the proposal of a new law. Professor Sunil mentioned that since 1936, six Land Acts have been introduced, but the Dharani Act of 2020 caused several issues, including the inclusion of large tracts of land under Part B, which limited the authority of revenue officials to resolve land disputes. This situation necessitated the involvement of tribunals, prompting the government to propose a new law.
The new 2024 Act aims to provide a comprehensive record of rights for both agricultural and non-agricultural land. The Act, which is divided into 20 sections, incorporates the best practices from previous laws and is designed to be beneficial for all landowners. Professor Sunil emphasized that the new law would ensure that land records are prepared and updated without issues, and it also allows for amendments to the Dharani Act, including changes to Part B under Section 4.
Furthermore, the professor explained that the new law introduces a Bhudar card system. Initially, each landowner will receive a temporary Bhudar card, which will be replaced by a permanent one after a thorough survey. The Act also outlines 18 types of land transfers and includes provisions for revenue authorities to investigate and halt transactions if any injustice is suspected. Additionally, the law provides an opportunity to regularize plain names and allows for corrections to records without needing to go to court.
Following these explanations, the District Collector encouraged the attendees, including public representatives, lawyers, and leaders from various associations, to provide suggestions that could help refine the new law to benefit the majority of the people. Many participants took the opportunity to share their opinions and suggestions.
Dr. G. Chinnareddy, Vice President of the State Planning Commission, who attended the event, stated that the new land rights law would address the problems caused by the Dharani Act. He provided a historical context, mentioning that land titles were initially issued in 1853 by Nawab Salarjan after a survey conducted by Everest. Dr. Chinnareddy emphasized the need for an officer in villages to maintain land records and assured that the new law would bring justice to landowners.
Local legislator Tudi Megha Reddy criticized the previous government for introducing the Dharani Act, which she claimed only benefited a few people and caused disputes among families. She pointed out that nearly 20 lakh patta lands were added to the prohibited list due to the Dharani Act and suggested that temple lands in villages should be provided with land rights under the new law. She also mentioned that a Hydra Committee would be formed to reclaim government lands from encroachers.
Maktal legislator Vakiti Srihari expressed concerns about the difficulties in correcting mistakes under the Dharani Act. He stressed the importance of public opinion in formulating laws and stated that the state government seeks public input, as seen in the Rythu Bharosa program and the current discussions on the Land Rights Act. Srihari urged that the law should be used for good, and those who deliberately break it should face consequences.
Devarakadra legislator G. Madhusudan Reddy echoed the sentiment that the government should involve the public in law-making processes. He criticized the lack of awareness among portal agencies, which led to patta lands being wrongly included in the prohibited list under the Dharani Act. He called for a new land rights law to resolve land issues and provide a permanent solution for the people.
Finally, the program saw participation from several other officials and public representatives, including Additional Collector Revenue Nagesh, RDO Padmavathi, Municipal Chairperson P. Mahesh, Market Committee Chairman Srinivas Goud, and various community leaders, teachers, and members of the public.
