Decode Politics: Why a land survey, titling Act has become Andhra’s hottest poll issue

AMIDST the Andhra Pradesh poll heat, the state Land Titling Act has become the latest flashpoint between the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

On May 5, following the instructions of the Election Commission, the Andhra Pradesh CID registered a case against TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and his son and TDP general secretary N Lokesh Naidu for allegedly making “false’’ statements against the Act.

A YSRCP delegation that met the EC alleged that the TDP has started making Interactive Voice Recording calls over which Naidu tells voters to not vote for the YSRCP as its leader and Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy “would take away their wealth” through the Act.

What is the Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Act?

In October 2020, the NITI Aayog, the government’s apex policy think tank, recommended the implementation of a Land Titling Act (LTA) in all states, following this up with a Model Bill on Conclusive Land Titling the next year.

In December 2020, Andhra Pradesh became the first state in the country to start re-surveying of land as part of this, calling it Jagannana Saswatha Bhu Hakku Bhu Rakshana Scheme. A comprehensive resurvey was ordered, to be conducted via drones and geo-tagging.

In August 2022, the YSRCP government passed the Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Act to create a system for maintaining land records and providing a database as per the latest surveys conducted by the government.

As per the Act, everyone owning land or immovable property needed to compulsorily register their property with government agencies, which would issue a permanent title. The Act also provided a new system for speedy property dispute resolution by establishing tribunals.

Has there been any opposition to the Act?

Since the Act was rolled out, civil rights activists and lawyers have raised objections to the method of surveying of land and other immovable properties.

In January, a group of lawyers under the All India Lawyers Forum filed a petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court for repealing of the Act, arguing specifically against the provision that prevents lower courts from hearing grievances and appeals against provisions of the legislation.

They also argued that the Land Titling Act would result in an increase in property disputes, was a violation of the Constitution, the Indian Succession Act of 1925, and relevant Supreme Court guidelines.

The HC ruled that civil courts could hear the land disputes but refused to repeal the Act.

What have TDP leaders been saying in their campaign?

Since the Act was introduced, Naidu has been calling it “a land grabbing Act”. In its campaign now, the TDP, along with actor Pawan Kalyan’s JanaSena Party and the BJP, have been raising objections to the use of drones for survey, arguing that often landowners are not present when such inspections are carried out.

At a rally on May 1, addressing a public meeting at Chirala in Bapatla district, Naidu said he would revoke the “land grabbing Act” should he come to power.

In another rally at Nuziveedu in NTR district, Naidu alleged that Jagan is formulating “deceptive strategies to grab people’s lands through the Land Titling Act” and questioned why Critical River Technology — an American company — had been given the task of maintaining the state’s land records.

At his public meetings, Naidu has also been saying that the government authorities involved in surveying property were not technically qualified to conduct such surveys.

What has the YSRCP argued?

YSRCP general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, who is an advisor to the Andhra government, said that the existing revenue records and surveys date back to British rule and that “there are a number of discrepancies in the records that needed to be fixed”.

Ramakrishna said that permanent and clear land title certificates would help owners secure their property and prevent any disputes in the future, plus standardise land records.

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