Encroachment of lands, title disputes, issue of pattas and registration of one’s land in the name of another in both urban and rural areas constitute a majority of petitions in the weekly grievance cell programmes and land disputes arising on that count resulting in complaints to police and court cases have been a major concern.
Alleged encroachment of a portion of the land of Coles Church near Kurnool old bus stand and registration of the land in the name of some individuals led to protests and staging of relay hunger strike in February this year. Alleging that part of the Coles Church land was registered in favour of others with fictitious power of attorney documents, the Baptist Christian Joint Action Committee spearheaded protests. The issue subsided after the registration was cancelled on instructions from higher-ups.
Student bodies had been protesting off and on alleging that part of the land belonging to Rayalaseema University had been encroached upon but the authorities concerned were lax. However, the university authorities have denied the charge.
Ex-serviceman’s plight
The house site given to an ex-serviceman in Kurnool town has been fraudulently registered in another person’s name, alleged his son Prasad Reddy, who has been running from pillar to post to get possession of the land. Mr. Prasad Reddy, who has been invoking the Right To Information Act and petitioning the revenue authorities for some years now, says he will not hesitate to move the court against the revenue officials who, he alleged, were meting out injustice to him.
Revenue officials admit that land issues and allegations of encroachment of lands constitute a majority of representations from petitioners. The government has been trying to protect the land owners’ rights by uploading land details online and enacted the Double Registration Prevention Act and Assigned Lands Regularisation Act, they say.
