Extends ‘Sada Bainama’ deadline
PNS|Vijayawada
A Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting on land governance reforms, chaired by Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister Anagani Sathya Prasad, was held at the Secretariat in Velagapudi on Tuesday. Ministers P Narayana, Payyavula Keshav, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, NMD Farooq and TG Bharat took part in the deliberations.
The committee discussed several key issues, including freehold land classifications, deletions under Section 22A, cancellation of the NALA Act, and the regularisation of ‘Sada Bainama’ land transactions.
Minister Sathya Prasad stated that the government would make decisions on freehold land in a way that ensures justice for the poor.
Of the ten land categories under review for freehold status, eight received the committee’s approval. It was observed that around 3 lakh acres were irregularly converted to freehold status during the previous regime, reportedly to benefit political associates. Legal action will be initiated in such cases after consultation with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Importantly, in cases where lands held by the poor were unlawfully converted to freehold status, the government will not reclaim them. Instead, they will be reassigned through proper procedures and will only be eligible for freehold status again after 20 years.
The committee also examined the adherence of district collectors to guidelines for removing lands from Section 22A, which restricts certain land transactions. It was found that some inclusions and deletions under 22A were carried out arbitrarily by the previous administration. Officials have now been directed to correct land records carefully, without adversely affecting genuine landowners or the poor. A revised framework for 22A-related decisions will be finalised after the Chief Minister’s approval.
The cancellation of the NALA Act was endorsed in principle, aligning with the CM’s earlier announcement. Ongoing discussions aim to incorporate conditions to prevent flooding and safeguard the flow of water in natural streams and tanks.
On the matter of ‘Sada Bainama’ documents, the deadline for regularising such land transactions has been extended from 2024 to 2027, in accordance with the ongoing resurvey and land record purification process.
The committee is set to reconvene soon to discuss further aspects of land governance and policy reforms.
