Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Harish Rao Demands White Paper, Judicial Probe Into 22-A Lands
T Harish Rao says many families may have been wrongly affected by Telangana’s 22-A prohibited land list.
He wants the government to explain why the listed land reportedly grew from about 3.71 lakh acres to nearly 30 lakh acres.
He also says government statements about when land was added do not match.
Rao is asking for a detailed white paper and an independent judicial investigation.
He alleges that more than 9,200 land registrations happened without the real owners knowing.
He gave the example of a woman receiving cancer treatment whose land was allegedly transferred.
The Congress government’s explanation, as cited by Rao, is that officials uploaded old lists without proper checking.
Rao says wrongly included properties should be removed without making people visit many government offices.
BRS leader T Harish Rao accused the Congress government of diverting attention from public problems and unfulfilled six guarantees.
Rao questioned conflicting statements about the 22-A prohibited land list, which he said grew from about 3.71 lakh acres to nearly 30 lakh acres.
He demanded a white paper and a judicial inquiry into land-list changes and alleged Bhu Bharati irregularities since December 7, 2023.
Rao alleged that more than 9,200 Bhu Bharati registrations occurred without the actual owners’ knowledge.
He said the BRS government had regularised 11.19 lakh simple sale deeds and issued pattas to families through GO 58 and GO 59.
- Who
- T Harish Rao, deputy leader of the BRS Legislature Party, and the Congress government in Telangana.
- What
- Rao demanded a white paper and judicial probe into the 22-A prohibited land list and alleged Bhu Bharati land-registration irregularities.
- When
- The demands were made on Wednesday; Rao requested an inquiry covering December 7, 2023, to the present.
- Where
- At a press conference at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- Why
- Rao said conflicting official statements and alleged wrongful land inclusions and registrations required public clarification and an independent investigation.
BRS and Harish Rao
Congress Government’s Cited Explanation
Growth of the prohibited land list
BRS and Harish Rao
Harish Rao said the increase from about 3.71 lakh acres to nearly 30 lakh acres requires explanation and may have affected many families.
Congress Government’s Cited Explanation
According to Rao’s account of the Chief Minister’s statement, Collectors uploaded old lists without proper verification, resulting in the larger figure.
When land was added
BRS and Harish Rao
Rao highlighted an apparent contradiction between the Chief Minister’s statement about officials uploading nearly 30 lakh acres and Minister Ponguleti’s claim that no new acre was added after Congress came to power.
Congress Government’s Cited Explanation
The positions attributed by Rao to the Chief Minister and Minister Ponguleti differ; the articles do not provide a direct government response resolving the discrepancy.
How to address affected properties
BRS and Harish Rao
Rao said committees and guidelines were insufficient and demanded unconditional removal of wrongly included properties plus a judicial inquiry.
Congress Government’s Cited Explanation
The government has referred to committees and guidelines, while the article does not detail a finalized government remedy.
- Issue
- The 22-A prohibited land list and alleged irregularities under Bhu Bharati.
- Reported land-list change
- Rao said the list increased from around 3.71 lakh acres to nearly 30 lakh acres.
- Requested review period
- December 7, 2023, to the date of the inquiry.
- Alleged registrations
- Rao claimed more than 9,200 Bhu Bharati registrations occurred without actual owners’ knowledge.
- Requested investigation
- A judicial inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge.
- BRS government claim
- Rao said 11.19 lakh simple sale deeds were regularised without charges.
- Other land measures cited
- GO 58 and GO 59 were used to issue pattas to lakhs of families.