Telangana Introduces New Land Registration System to Prevent Fraud and Disputes

The Telangana government is taking big steps to fix problems in land registrations. These issues include fraudulent sales, double registrations (selling the same land twice), and fake records. To address these challenges, the government is introducing a system that uses advanced technology and stricter rules. This will make land records clearer, safer, and more reliable for landowners.

What’s Changing?

The government has announced several key measures to make the land registration process foolproof:

1. Land Coordinates Will Be Mandatory

From now on, agricultural property registrations will require exact land coordinates. This means the government will use GPS-based technology to identify and map each land parcel uniquely. By doing this, every piece of land will have precise latitude and longitude points linked to it, making it impossible to sell or register the same land twice.

2. Accurate Land Mapping

The government will conduct a detailed mapping of agricultural lands under the Bhu Bharathi (Right of Records) Act, which replaced the old land records system in 2020. These maps will show clear boundaries and exact locations of lands to avoid disputes and confusion.

3. Preventing Fraudulent Land Sales

In recent years, there have been many cases where people have used fake survey numbers to illegally sell land, sometimes even selling government land as private property. These new measures aim to put an end to such practices. By linking land to specific coordinates and issuing unique IDs, the chances of fraud will significantly reduce.

Steps to Make the System Foolproof

The government is implementing additional measures to address other challenges:

1. Clear Records for Divided Land

When a single plot of land is split into smaller parts (for example, into halves or thirds), it often creates confusion because these divisions may not be clearly recorded. The government will now ensure that all such smaller land divisions are properly reflected in maps and records. This will help buyers and sellers avoid disputes in the future.

2. Unique Bhu Dhar Numbers for Land Parcels

Every piece of land in Telangana will soon receive a unique identification number called the "Bhu Dhar number." Think of this as a land version of Aadhaar, where each land parcel has a unique code. This system will make it easier to track and verify ownership of lands.

3. Passbooks with Barcodes

To prevent the use of fake land passbooks, the government will issue new passbooks with barcodes. These will be linked to the land’s official records, ensuring that only genuine documents can be used during property transactions.

Biggest Land Survey Yet

The government plans to carry out a massive survey and re-check all land records across the state. Here’s how they’re going about it:

1. Comprehensive Surveys in Villages:

Every village in Telangana will be surveyed to ensure land records are accurate. This will be done under the Telangana Survey and Boundaries Act, 1923, or the Telangana Land Revenue Act, 1907.

2. Financial Support from the Central Government:

The government is likely to receive funding from the central government for this large-scale initiative. A similar project in Andhra Pradesh has already mapped over 2,000 villages, and Telangana plans to follow the same model.

3. Doubling the Number of Surveyors:

Currently, Telangana has about 1,000 licensed surveyors who handle land records and mapping. To complete this ambitious project faster, the government will increase this number significantly.

How Will This Help Landowners?

1. No More Fraud or Double Registrations:

Since each piece of land will be uniquely identified with GPS coordinates and a Bhu Dhar number, it will become nearly impossible for fraudsters to sell or register someone else’s land.

2. Clear Land Records for Divided Properties:

Landowners who sell or divide their land into smaller parts will benefit from clear, updated maps. This will prevent confusion during future transactions.

3. Better Security for Landowners:

The new barcoded passbooks and unique IDs will give landowners more confidence and security in their property rights.

4. Easier Transactions:

Buyers will find it simpler to verify the authenticity of land they’re purchasing, as all details will be accessible through official records.

Why Is This Necessary?

There have been growing complaints about irregularities in land records. Fraudulent sales, disputes over land ownership, and confusion due to unclear records have caused stress for landowners and buyers alike. Some people have even been able to sell government land illegally using fake documents. This new system aims to resolve these problems once and for all.

Additional Benefits

The move will also help the government:

• Keep track of agricultural land and its usage.
• Prevent land disputes by creating clearer ownership records.
• Improve revenue collection, as all transactions will be properly documented.

In summary, the Telangana government’s new land registration system will make land records more accurate and reliable while protecting landowners from fraud and disputes. These changes, inspired by successful practices in other states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, aim to bring transparency and security to land ownership in Telangana.