Hyderabad: Stating that no poor person or genuine landowner should suffer injustice over lands included in the Section 22-A prohibited list, revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Wednesday directed district collectors and revenue officials to dispose of all Section 22-A applications and grievances within 45 days.“All Section 22-A applications and complaints, irrespective of the level at which they are received, should be disposed of within the prescribed timeframe. Applications received by tahsildars, revenue divisional officers (RDOs), sub-collectors and district collectors must be thoroughly examined to ensure justice for eligible applicants,” the minister said.Reviewing the prohibitory properties list with revenue officials at the secretariat, the minister directed authorities to complete all procedures relating to Section 22-A disputes within the timeline prescribed by the high court and take final decisions within that period.Although the review focused on districts under the CURE jurisdiction, the minister instructed that the directions be implemented by district collectors, revenue officials, and stamps and registration department officials across all districts.Clarifying the govt’s stand, he said the state govt had never intended to inconvenience the public and dismissed allegations that undisputed private lands had been added to the prohibited list as false. He asserted that not a single cent of land had been newly included in the prohibited list since the Congress govt assumed office.He reiterated that the govt was committed to protecting the rights of eligible landowners while safeguarding government land.The minister directed officials to comprehensively review lands included in the prohibited list and identify those eligible for removal in accordance with legal provisions and established procedures. He stressed that every case must be decided based on facts, official records, and applicable laws to ensure justice for citizens.The minister also instructed officials to accord priority to applications received through the Prajavani grievance redressal programme and expedite inquiries for their disposal.Emphasising that protecting govt land remains the govt’s foremost responsibility, the minister asked officials to remain vigilant against illegal transactions, unlawful registrations, and encroachments. He reminded officials that district collectors are empowered to take final decisions on lands included in the Section 22-A prohibited list and urged them to ensure transparency while balancing the rights of citizens with the interests of the govt.
