Andhra Pradesh’s land registration freeze has entered its second year, impacting nearly 20 lakh acres of assigned and free-hold land across the state. Initially imposed in 2024 following widespread reports of record tampering, the freeze continues to block property transactions, inheritance transfers, and monetization of land assets — leaving thousands of landowners and farmers in limbo2.
The freeze applies to plots listed under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, including those flagged for irregularities or pending verification. However, the blanket nature of the ban has affected even those whose land records are not under suspicion, sparking criticism from stakeholders across districts like Krishna, Guntur, Nellore, East Godavari, and West Godavari.
Assigned lands — originally distributed by the government to landless individuals for cultivation since the 1970s — have reportedly been transferred or repurposed over the decades. In 2023, officials began investigating unauthorized transactions and tampering, prompting the registration halt. Despite village-level revenue reviews and state-wide verification drives, the issue remains unresolved.
The government has extended the freeze by another three months, citing the need for further examination. A Group of Ministers (GoM) was formed to study the matter, but no resolution plan has been submitted yet. Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad stated that corrective action is expected by October 2025, with a focus on identifying genuine assignees and preventing unauthorized transfers2.
Opposition leaders, including CPI(M) state secretary V. Srinivasa Rao, have called for an all-party meeting to formulate a comprehensive land policy. Rao highlighted that while successive governments claimed to distribute 32 lakh acres since 1970, nearly 15 lakh acres were encroached upon — and previous promises to recover these lands remain unfulfilled.
Legal experts warn that the prolonged freeze could undermine the credibility of Andhra’s land administration system. Without a transparent rectification mechanism, disputes may escalate and delay land-linked investments. Banks have also grown hesitant to accept frozen plots as collateral, further limiting access to credit for affected landholders.
The government has indicated plans to publish a list of verified plots cleared for registration, but no timeline has been confirmed. Farmer groups are urging a phased approach, allowing clean parcels to be unfrozen while investigations continue for disputed cases.
