Archive · 20 Jul 2026
Former IPS Officer Demands Land Rollback for Farmers
A former police officer named A.B. Venkateswara Rao spoke to the press in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
He said that the government should give back lands to farmers that were put under a special category called 22-A.
This category stops farmers from selling or buying their lands, even though they own them.
Rao said that about 22 lakh acres of land are affected.
He also mentioned that a court had ordered the government to remove these restrictions in 2014, but it hasn't been done yet.
He gave an example of 900 acres in Tirupati district that were recently removed from the list and asked why the same couldn't be done for all farmers.
Rao said the process to remove lands from the 22-A list is too hard for farmers because they have to go to higher authorities.
He said they are not criticizing the government but want to fix the system.
Former IPS officer A.B. Venkateswara Rao urged the Andhra Pradesh government to restore lands under the 22-A category to farmers.
Nearly 22 lakh acres of land are included in the 22-A prohibited list, preventing farmers from selling or purchasing their lands.
Farmers are in distress due to the continued restrictions despite having legitimate ownership rights.
A 2014 court judgment ordered the removal of lands from the 22-A list, but successive governments have not implemented it.
Rao cited a recent instance where 900 acres in Tirupati district were removed from the prohibited list and questioned why similar relief couldn't be extended to all farmers.
- Who
- Former IPS officer A.B. Venkateswara Rao and farmers in Andhra Pradesh
- What
- Demand for the rollback of 22-A land restrictions
- When
- Press conference held on Monday
- Where
- Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
- Why
- To restore land rights to farmers and address systemic flaws in land administration
Farmers and Activists
Government Authorities
Land Restrictions
Farmers and Activists
The 22-A restrictions are unjust and deprive farmers of their property rights, causing distress.
Government Authorities
The government maintains the restrictions to prevent misuse of land and ensure proper land administration.
Implementation of Court Orders
Farmers and Activists
Successive governments have failed to implement the 2014 court order to remove lands from the 22-A list.
Government Authorities
The government is working on addressing the issue but needs more time to process the large number of cases.
- Former IPS Officer
- A.B. Venkateswara Rao
- Category
- 22-A
- Affected Land
- 22 lakh acres
- Location
- Andhra Pradesh
- Court Judgment
- 2014, Justice Nagarjuna Reddy