Check TS Prohibited Land List: Section 22-A Guide

What is Section 22-A Prohibited Property in Telangana?

1908 రిజిస్ట్రేషన్ చట్టంలోని సెక్షన్ 22-A అనేది తెలంగాణ ప్రభుత్వానికి నిర్దిష్ట భూమి పార్శిళ్లను రిజిస్ట్రేషన్ నుండి “నిషేధించబడింది” అని తెలియజేయడానికి అధికారం ఇచ్చే చట్టపరమైన నిబంధన. ముఖ్యంగా, ఇది TS భూమి రికార్డులపై డిజిటల్ బ్లాక్‌ను సృష్టిస్తుంది, ఇది సబ్-రిజిస్ట్రార్ (SRO) ఆ సర్వే నంబర్ కోసం ఏదైనా అమ్మకం, బహుమతి లేదా తనఖా డీడ్‌లను ప్రాసెస్ చేయకుండా నిరోధిస్తుంది.

2026 ఆస్తి ల్యాండ్‌స్కేప్‌లో, ఈ జాబితా అంతిమ “రెడ్ ఫ్లాగ్”. ఒక ఆస్తి ఇక్కడ చేర్చబడితే, రాష్ట్రం లేదా ఒక నిర్దిష్ట సంస్థ దానిపై దావా వేసిందని లేదా ప్రజా విధానాన్ని ఉల్లంఘించే చట్టపరమైన వివాదంలో భూమి చిక్కుకుందని అర్థం. కొనుగోలుదారుల కోసం, ఈ జాబితాను తనిఖీ చేయడం ఇకపై ఐచ్ఛికం కాదు—మీ పెట్టుబడి “రాక ముందే చనిపోలేదని” నిర్ధారించుకోవడానికి ఇది ప్రాథమిక శ్రద్ధలో మొదటి అడుగు.

The 5 Categories of Prohibited Lands (Section 22-A Breakdown)

Understanding why a property is flagged is critical for determining if the restriction can ever be removed. In Telangana, these are categorized under five specific clauses:

Clause	Category Name	What It Covers
22-A(1)(a)	Government Land	Lands belonging to the state, central government, or local authorities (e.g., Poramboke, Sarkari).
22-A(1)(b)	Religious & Waqf	Properties owned by the Endowments Department (temples) or the Waqf Board (mosques/trusts).
22-A(1)(c)	Assigned Lands	Lands are given to economically weaker sections for farming; these generally cannot be sold to third parties.
22-A(1)(d)	Court Stays	Properties under active litigation or specific prohibitory orders from the High Court or civil courts.
22-A(1)(e)	Public Policy	Lands the government deems “unfit” for private transfer, often due to ceiling surplus or environmental zones.

How to Check Prohibited Land List on IGRS Telangana (Step-by-Step)

For non-agricultural properties (plots, flats, or commercial spaces), the IGRS Telangana portal is your primary search tool. Follow this exact path to verify the status:

1. Visit the Official Portal: Go to registration.telangana.gov.in.
2. Navigate to Search: Locate the “Prohibited Properties” link under the main information dashboard.
3. Define the Location: Select your District, Mandal, and Village from the dropdown menus.
4. Enter Survey Details: Input the Survey Number or Town Survey Number (TS No).
5. Submit & Verify: Click ‘Submit’.

Visual Cue: When the results appear, look for the “Prohibited Status” column. If the cell is marked with a Red indicator or lists a specific clause (e.g., “Under 22-A 1(a)”), the property is blocked. Ensure the “Reason for Prohibition” aligns with the physical nature of the land before proceeding.

Searching Prohibited Lands via Bhu Bharati (Dharani 2.0)

In 2026, the Bhu Bharati portal has replaced the old Dharani system for all agricultural land records. It is a more robust, GIS-mapped system.

• Semantic Shift: Unlike the old system, Bhu Bharati uses the 11-digit Bhudhaar ID for higher accuracy, though you can still search via the Khata Number or Pattadar Passbook.
• The Process: Log in to bhubharati.telangana.gov.in and use the “Know Your Land” module. The system will display a digital map.
• The “Double-Check” Gap: A common issue in 2026 is seeing land as “Clean” on IGRS but “Prohibited” on Bhu Bharati. This usually happens when land has been converted (NALA) but the revenue records haven’t synced with the registration database. Always trust the Bhu Bharati (Revenue) status as the final word for agricultural parcels.

Common Reasons for Wrongful Entry in the 22-A List

In my experience, at least 30% of properties on the prohibited list are there due to administrative oversight rather than actual legal restriction. If you believe your property is incorrectly listed, it likely stems from one of these three “2026 realities”:

• Digital Migration Glitches: During the transition from the old revenue registers to Dharani and subsequently to Bhu Bharati, thousands of private “Patta” lands were misclassified as “Government Land” simply because the old Sethwar (1950 records) was not digitized correctly.
• Stale Court Stays: A common “technical ghost” is a prohibitory order from a decades-old court case that has long since been dismissed. Because the SRO database was never updated with the final decree, the “Red Flag” remains active.
• Legacy “Assigned” Tags: Land assigned to veterans or the poor prior to June 18, 1954, is technically exempt from sale restrictions in many cases. However, the system often flags all “Assigned Land” by default, ignoring the “Cut-off Date” rule.

How to Remove Property from the Section 22-A Prohibited List

Removing a property is an administrative process, not a “setting” you can change overnight. It requires a clear paper trail.

Filing an Online Grievance via Bhu Bharati

The first line of defense is the Bhu Bharati Portal.

1. Log in via the Citizen Portal and select the module “Grievance relating to inclusion in Prohibited Properties List.”
2. You must select the specific survey number and provide a “Reason for Deletion.”
3. Critical Step: After submission, you must visit a Meeseva center for eKYC. Without this biometric verification, your application will sit in “Pending” status indefinitely.

Applying to the District Collector for De-notification

For complex cases (like Waqf or Endowment disputes), the District Collector is the primary authority under Section 22-A(4).

• You must submit a formal representation supported by a certified copy of the Sethwar and a link document chain for at least 30 years.
• In 2026, the government has established a Special Committee (chaired by the CCLA) specifically to review these Collector-level proposals.

Legal Remedies: High Court Writ Petitions for 22-A

If the Revenue Department fails to act within 90 days, your best path is a Writ of Mandamus in the Telangana High Court.

• Expert Insight: The High Court has recently (as of late 2025) taken a stern view on “reasonless” prohibitions. If the government cannot produce a Gazette Notification justifying the 22-A entry, the court often directs the SRO to register the property within 3 to 4 weeks.

Expert Document Checklist: To win your case, you need the “Golden Trio”:

1. Certified Sethwar/Diglot (pre-1950 records).
2. Certified Encumbrance Certificate (EC) showing registered transactions prior to the prohibition date.
3. The SRO’s “Refusal Order” or a “Market Value Certificate” noting the prohibition.

The Difference Between “Locked Land” and “Prohibited Land”

This is where many buyers and even junior agents get confused.

• Prohibited Land (22-A): This is a legal status. The land is barred because of who owns it or a specific law (like the Assigned Lands Act). It is a permanent block until de-notified by a collector or court.
• Locked Land: This is a temporary administrative hold. A survey number might be “locked” in the portal because of a pending mutation, a simple clerical error during data entry, or a temporary investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

Essential Checklist for Buyers to Avoid Section 22-A Scams

Before you pay even a single rupee in advance, verify these four items:

Step	Action Item	Why It Matters
1	Check IGRS & Bhu Bharati	Status must be “Clear” on both portals.
2	Verify Form 15 EC	Check for “Prohibitory Orders” in the last 30 years.
3	Check the Pahani	Ensure the “Land Nature” column says Patta, not Sarkari or Assigned.
4	Check the SRO Prohibited List	Physically verify the “Register of Prohibited Properties” at the SRO office.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Can I get a bank loan for a 22-A property? No. Banks consider 22-A properties as “non-marketable titles.” Even if you have possession, the inability to register a mortgage makes the property ineligible for financing.
• How often is the TS Prohibited Land List updated? It is updated in “real time” at the District level, but portal synchronization can take 7–15 days. Always check the “Last Updated” date on the Bhu Bharati search result.
• What is the fee for de-notifying a property? There is no official “fee” for the de-notification process itself, but you will incur costs for obtaining certified copies and legal representation if a writ petition is required.

Final Verdict: Navigating IGRS Telangana Safely

In 2026, Section 22-A is the single biggest hurdle in the Telangana real estate market. While the government is working to “clean” the list via the CCLA’s new committee, the burden of proof remains on the landowner. Never assume a property is safe just because the seller has a passbook. Verify first, pay later. If you find yourself on the list, move quickly with a revenue grievance to protect your title.