Hyderabad: Observing that courts are increasingly burdened with petitions seeking directions to authorities to perform routine statutory duties, Telangana high court has called upon the state govt to explain the mechanism in place for addressing citizens’ grievances related to revenue services.Justice NV Shravan Kumar directed the principal secretary, revenue department, to file a detailed report within four weeks outlining the standard operating procedure (SOP) followed in matters relating to land surveys, rectification or correction of revenue records, identification of missing survey numbers, issuance of pattadar passbooks following sale or purchase of land, and other related services.The court also directed the govt to file a counter-affidavit in a petition filed by a farmer. The matter was adjourned to Aug 4.The directions were issued while hearing a petition filed by 73-year-old farmer Loka Nadipi Hanmandlu of Bodhan in Nizamabad district. Hanmandlu contended that despite submitting an application in Oct 2025, local revenue authorities had failed to verify land records and mutate his name in the revenue records in respect of three land parcels measuring about two acres at Ootpalle village in Bodhan mandal.In response, the assistant govt pleader for revenue submitted that authorities are processing such applications and passing orders within the stipulated time. However, communication of those orders to applicants is often delayed as they are dispatched through post.The court noted that a large number of writ petitions relate to routine revenue matters such as F-line applications for measurement, demarcation and fixation of agricultural land boundaries, correction of revenue entries, tracing missing survey numbers and mutation proceedings—issues that authorities are expected to resolve within prescribed timelines.Further, stressing the need for a citizen-friendly approach, the court observed that the revenue department should ensure applicants are regularly informed about the status of their requests so that they can track the progress of matters pending before the jurisdictional authorities.
