Telangana Assembly Erupts Over Dharani, 22-A Lands and BRS Suspensions

The seventh day of the Telangana Assembly’s monsoon session witnessed a heated debate over land disputes, the Dharani portal, Section 22-A prohibited lands and the suspension of BRS MLAs on Wednesday. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced investigations into alleged land irregularities, while BRS MLA T. Harish Rao demanded a judicial probe and BJP Armur MLA Paidi Rakesh Reddy threatened to resign if he was not given an opportunity to speak. The session, which began on September 7, had resumed on Wednesday after being adjourned on September 12.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced a SIT probe into alleged irregularities linked to the Dharani land-record system and ordered a special investigation into lands associated with former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) at Erravelli in Siddipet district. He alleged that BRS leaders, associates and relatives had appropriated land worth around ₹1 lakh crore and said the investigation would establish the facts and ensure justice for poorer sections.

Revanth Reddy alleged that around 388 acres of government-assigned land fell within the area of KCR’s farmhouse and questioned whether nearly 700 acres were under his control. He directed the Revenue Department and district Collector to issue notices and determine the land purchased by KCR, the actual extent under his possession and who controlled the 388 acres. If government land was found under KCR’s control, it would be distributed to Dalits, with each beneficiary receiving half an acre, he said. The inquiry was given a 30-day deadline.

The Chief Minister also traced Telangana’s land administration from the Nizam era, referring to the 1908 land records, 1954-55 Kasra Pahani, 1955 Inams Abolition Act, 1973 Land Ceiling Act, 1977 Assigned Lands Transfer Prohibition Act, 1989 ROR Act and 2006 Forest Rights Act. He alleged that records covering around 2.5 crore acres, along with Aadhaar, bank-account and phone details, reached foreign entities during the Dharani process. He said disputes currently covered 3,73,930 acres of private land and cited the Bhū Bharati Act, 2025 as the framework for resolving them.

On Section 22-A, Revanth Reddy said the provision was introduced in 1999, not by the present government. He said prohibited land stood at 7,91,542 acres in October 2020, compared with 3,73,930 acres subsequently, while Part-B disputed lands had been reduced to 17 lakh acres. He proposed Collector-level scrutiny, a 60-day appeal and a 90-day revision process.

The government also announced measures covering 12 categories of land issues, including ULC surplus lands, government plots in HMDA/GHMC/DTCP-approved layouts, Singareni coal-belt cases, GO 59’s 1,22,280 applications and 18,590 pending applications, GO 118 cases in LB Nagar, assigned-land houses, Indiramma houses, unpaid NALA charges, government-land encroachments, Secunderabad leasehold properties and assigned/Bhoodan lands. A high-powered committee will address 22-A disputes involving poorer citizens within 30 days.

BRS MLA T. Harish Rao rejected the Chief Minister’s allegations and questioned differences between Revanth Reddy and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy over additions to the 22-A list. He demanded a judge-supervised judicial inquiry into alleged Dharani-era irregularities as well as claims concerning Bhū Bharati. Harish Rao also alleged a Bhū Bharati “challan scam”, claiming instances where ₹10 lakh due to the government was shown as only ₹1 lakh paid.

Harish Rao opposed the suspension of 22 BRS MLAs, alleging political motives, and questioned the action over black T-shirts worn on September 7. Revanth Reddy defended the suspensions, alleging that BRS members had violated Assembly rules, behaved improperly with police and made objectionable remarks against the Speaker.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Paidi Rakesh Reddy threatened to resign unless granted at least 10 minutes to speak. He alleged discrimination against the undivided Nizamabad district in funds and investments and said he possessed figures concerning allocations to Kodangal, Manthani, Mulugu and ministers’ constituencies, which he intended to present in the House.