Explained: Telangana's Section 22A prohibited land list and who it affects

Section 22A of the Registration Act lets the state keep a list of properties that cannot be registered, and in Telangana that list has frozen property deals for thousands of owners. In August 2026 the issue reached the top of the political agenda, with the Revenue Minister apologising that the lists were outdated and the Chief Minister ordering verification for affected applicants.

What Section 22A does

The provision exists to stop sales of land that was never legitimately the seller's — government land, temple and Waqf land, and plots assigned to poor families. If a property is on the list, the sub-registrar must refuse to register a sale, gift or mortgage. As Siasat puts it, without registration a buyer cannot get the property in their name, and banks will not sanction a loan against it.

Who is affected

Owners in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri and Sangareddy districts have found themselves unable to sell, gift or mortgage properties. Their ownership remains valid, but the property is effectively unusable in transactions. Siasat reports about 6,000 related cases in the High Court.

How big is the problem?

There is no published audit. Estimates of the land covered vary widely — from about 40 lakh acres, claimed by a BRS leader, to an updated October 2025 official list that Siasat says runs to over 1 crore acres out of Telangana's roughly 2.5 crore acres.

What the government has done

• 5 August: The Revenue Minister denied that properties were added deliberately.
• 13 August: The Chief Minister urged the public to stay calm.
• 17 August: The Minister apologised and acknowledged the lists were outdated.
• 18 August: The Chief Minister ordered a two-day verification for registered applicants.
• 24 August: The Minister said 98% of applications had been cleared, calling the opposition campaign misleading.

What buyers and owners should do

Before buying, check the property's survey number against the current 22A list and get a legal title check, as ownership documents alone do not show whether a plot is listed. Owners who find a wrong listing can apply to the District Collector, who has final authority, and can approach the High Court if the listing lacks proper documentation.

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