The land registration freeze in Andhra Pradesh has entered its second year, affecting nearly 20 lakh acres of assigned and free-hold land across the state. The freeze was implemented in 2024 following reports of manipulation in land records, primarily related to assigned lands distributed by the government since the 1970s.
Despite state-wide verification drives and village-level revenue reviews, the issue remains unresolved. The government recently extended the freeze by another three months, citing the need for further examination. The freeze continues to block transactions involving land registration, sale, and inheritance, leaving a large number of landowners and farmers unable to access, transfer, or monetize their property.
Assigned lands are those allocated by the government to landless individuals for cultivation. Over the decades, several of these lands have reportedly been transferred, sold, or repurposed. Officials began examining the extent of unauthorized transactions and potential tampering of records in 2023, which led to the ban on registrations.
The state government formed a Group of Ministers (GoM) to study the issue and recommend a way forward. However, the GoM has not yet submitted a resolution plan. Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad has stated that the government aims to identify genuine assignees, prevent unauthorized transfers, and finalize corrective action by October 2025.
The freeze applies to lands listed in the prohibitory register under Section 22-A of the Registration Act. This includes parcels flagged for irregularities or pending verification. However, several landholders whose plots are not under suspicion have also been affected, as the freeze applies broadly without exemptions.
In districts such as Krishna, Guntur, Nellore, East Godavari, and West Godavari, landowners have reported difficulties in completing property transactions. Farmers have said they are unable to sell land to cover urgent needs or transfer ownership to family members. Banks are also hesitant to accept frozen plots as collateral, reducing access to loans.
Opposition leaders have criticized the delay in resolving the matter. Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary V. Srinivasa Rao has called for an all-party meeting to develop a land policy. He stated that successive governments claimed to distribute around 32 lakh acres since 1970, but approximately 15 lakh acres were encroached upon. Rao also said earlier promises to recover these lands from ineligible holders have not been implemented.
Legal experts have raised concerns that the extended suspension of registrations may affect the credibility of the land administration system. They note that a prolonged freeze without a transparent rectification mechanism could lead to further disputes and delay land-related investments.
The government has indicated that it may soon publish a list of verified plots cleared for registration. However, the timeline for a full resolution remains uncertain. Internal audits of land records are ongoing, but officials have not provided details on how many parcels have been examined or cleared.
The freeze, while aimed at addressing irregularities, has affected landholders who are not connected to record tampering. Several farmer groups have demanded that the government expedite the identification of clean plots and resume registrations where possible.
As the situation continues, the number of pending land transactions has increased. Stakeholders across districts have urged the government to adopt a phased approach that allows verified properties to be removed from the freeze while investigations continue for disputed cases. Until then, landowners across Andhra Pradesh remain subject to restrictions with limited legal recourse.
