BRS MLA T. Harish Rao has written to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the implementation of Section 22A of the Registration Act in Telangana has led to a major governance crisis. He claimed that several legally owned private properties, including HMDA and GHMC-approved layouts as well as long-standing patta lands, have been wrongly placed on the prohibited lands list, preventing owners from selling, gifting, or mortgaging their properties. According to Rao, the issue has affected landowners across Hyderabad, Medchal, Malkajgiri, Ranga Reddy, Sangareddy, and several other districts.

In his letter, Harish Rao accused the state government of misusing Section 22A and alleged irregularities in the administration of prohibited lands. He demanded the immediate removal of Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, a judicial inquiry led by a retired High Court judge, a forensic audit of all additions and removals under Section 22A since December 2023, an independent anti-corruption investigation, and greater transparency through district-wise public disclosure of affected survey numbers. He also called for stronger safeguards to protect genuine property owners.

The controversy stems from the inclusion of private lands in the prohibited list, even though such restrictions are intended primarily for government land, endowment properties, and disputed land. Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has acknowledged that mistakes occurred due to errors by revenue officials, who reportedly failed to remove genuine private lands before forwarding the list to sub-registrars. The government has stated that corrective measures are being taken, while the opposition continues to demand accountability and action.