CMO stalls revenue dept’s move to allow registrations in Paigah lands | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: A proposal by revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy to allow registrations in disputed Paigah lands has run into resistance from the chief minister’s office (CMO).The disagreement centres on Paigah lands covered under civic suits (CS) 14 and CS 7 of 1958, spread across nearly 1,500 acres, mostly in the erstwhile Greater Hyderabad region. Hundreds of residential colonies, gated communities and high-rise apartment complexes have come up on these lands over the years, particularly in prime western suburbs such as Hafeezpet, Madhapur, Miyapur and surrounding areas, even as the legal battle between the state and private parties has continued for nearly six decades.A couple of weeks ago, Srinivas Reddy announced that the govt was considering permitting registrations in Paigah lands through conditional registrations. Under the proposal, registration documents would clearly state that the transactions would remain subject to the outcome of pending cases before the Supreme Court and high court.Officials point out that the state has lost several cases relating to these lands, including in the Supreme Court. Even if registrations were allowed, the lands would continue to remain on the 22-A prohibited properties list.However, despite the minister’s announcement, revenue principal secretary DS Lokesh Kumar has not issued any instructions to district collectors or the registration department. Sources said some collectors sought clarification from the govt on whether registrations could be permitted.Subsequently, the revenue department reportedly informed officials that no final decision had been taken, and that cases should be examined individually. The CMO is reportedly of the view that allowing registrations could be perceived as the govt conceding defeat in the long-running legal dispute.“The revenue department is of the opinion that GHMC had permitted the buildings including some high-rises with court orders and some registrations had taken place with the court orders. Now, there is no point in stopping them for further registrations,” a senior revenue official said.For instance Mahindra Ashvita Cooperative Housing Society in survey No. 78/2 of Hafeezpet has around 664 flats. Residents say the project obtained building permission in 2015, received an occupancy certificate from GHMC in 2018 and has been occupied ever since. They also point out that property taxes have been paid regularly over the years.“The state govt put our land and apartments in 22-A claiming it as CS 14 land and stopped registrations from Nov 2025. As the building is in 22-A, we are unable to sell our flats for children’s education, weddings and even obtain loans on the flats,” an office-bearer of the Mahindra Ashvita society told TOI.He said the residents’ association has submitted nearly 90 representations to various authorities over the past few months, but the issue remains unresolved.GFX:In Hafeezpet there are about 700 acres Paigah lands in survey no 77 to 80 of Hafeezpet, where there is a dispute between the state govt and private parties, around 430 acres of 484 acres in survey no 80 in Hafeezpet are covered by the buildings including gated communities and apartments. In survey nos 77 to 80, of Hafeezpet village decrees confirmed up to Supreme Court, but they are still under prohibition. In survey no 80, there are 484 acres of that only 50 acres are vacant, and the constructions have come up in the remaining land and residential colonies have come up.Similarly in survey no 172 of Hydernagar village near Kukatpally, of the 192 acres, the SC in June 2023, except 54 acres (under OSA No 55 of 2004), asked the private parties to establish the ownership afresh. In Ghansimiyaguda near Shamshabad, S No 3 and 4, they are continuing under encroachments, but the govt failed to protect the lands.
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