Opposition to AP Land Titling Act Mounting

Kakinada: Opposition to Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Act 2022 is mounting among people, more so advocates. This is because the act gives full powers to titling officers in settling land disputes, with courts not having any say in the matter.

Already several land-based cases have not been accepted by several civil courts including those at Avanigadda and Proddutur. A senior advocate filed a similar case in the Kakinada court on Thursday. The court rejected the case, saying it be taken up under the Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Act 2022, which is already in force.

However, advocates point out that state government has not appointed any titling officer or authority so far.

Senior advocate and former member of AP Bar Council Madduri Subba Rao told Deccan Chronicle that as titling officers are appointed by the government, they are amenable to political influences.

“The act adversely affects public, in particular common people. It should be abolished,” he declared.

Subba Rao said the act provides for a land survey before a decision is taken. “But who will decide whether the survey has been done correctly or not? Only civil courts can do justice in property cases,” he contended.

The advocate pointed out that revenue-related departments are facing allegations of corruption. The titling officers can thus be influenced and deny justice, he stated.

The Kakinada Bar Association member Kakarla Venkateswara Rao said Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Act 2022 will do injustice to land owners and should be abolished.

Kakinada Bar Association president M. Visweswara Rao said association members have thoroughly discussed the act on Thursday. They have decided to boycott courts for seven days from Friday, demanding abolition of the AP Land Titling Act.

“Otherwise, advocates will go for an indefinite boycott of courts till the act is abolished,” Visweswara Rao warned.