Harish Rao accuses Congress government of misusing Section 22-A, demands white paper

Accusing the Revanth Reddy government of turning Section 22-A into a tool of harassment and corruption, BRS Deputy Floor Leader T Harish Rao demanded that the Congress government release a white paper on all lands added to the prohibited list since December 7, 2023.

Harish Rao alleged that the government was placing properties under Section 22-A without proper verification. Properties that had long been cleared under the Urban Land Ceiling Act were now being brought back under the prohibited list, he said during an informal interaction with media persons here on Monday.

Harish Rao pointed out that the Urban Land Ceiling Act had been repealed across the country in 1999. He said the then Andhra Pradesh government, headed by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, had withdrawn the applicability of the law in the State in 2008.

“When lands were already cleared from the ceiling restrictions, on what basis is this government once again bringing them under Section 22-A? This



exposes the government’s lack of understanding and administrative control,” he asked.

He questioned the decision to include properties in Survey Nos. 8 and 9 of Srinagar Colony, where residents had been living for decades. He said even apartment flats purchased around 30 years ago were being subjected to Section 22-A restrictions, leaving ordinary citizens uncertain about the future of their properties.

He said properties that had earlier received official NOCs from the government and against which banks had sanctioned loans were now being placed under Section 22-A. This was creating difficulties for both property owners and financial institutions, he said.

He also questioned the inclusion of established areas such as Banjara Hills Housing Society in the prohibited list.

The former Minister said the issue had reached a point where even the residence of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was reportedly reflected in the Section 22-A prohibited list.