AP Assembly Passes Land Titling Act Repeal, Rename of Health University Bills

VIJAYAWADA: The AP Assembly on Wednesday passed the Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Repeal Bill 2024 to scrap the law. It also passed the Dr YSR University of Health Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2024, that restored the name of former chief minister N.T. Rama Rao to the varsity.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has termed the Land Titling Act as "terrible" and detrimental to the interests of AP’s landowners. Speaking during a debate on the Land Titling Act Bill, Naidu criticised the previous government for enacting the Law without “adequate consideration of its implications.”

Revenue minister Anagani Satya Prasad introduced the AP Land Titling Repeal Bill, 2024 and health minister Satya Kumar Yadav the health university bill. All legislators supported the two bills and Speaker Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu announced their unanimous passage. The two bills were unanimously passed in the legislative council too.

The Chief Minister said, “It is a very terrible law. Bringing this law without any thought has caused many problems. For instance, if you look at my Kuppam constituency, I have never received a complaint. I have been CM and MLA and Leader of the Opposition from there for 40 years. However, due to the irregularities in the last five years, most of the complaints/cases in my constituency were about land disputes.”

“Individual lands were put under the 22A Prohibition list, and from there, whoever wanted a settlement, he would come and start negotiations. If we agree, and if they agree, they will automatically remove 22A and settle it again under private land. This reflects land illegalities.”

Naidu said, “This law will lead to the seizure of property of citizens. Section 335 of this law prohibits the powers of 533 civil courts in land disputes and we are forced to go directly to the high court. How many people can afford to go to the high court?”

"Any person may be appointed as Land Titling Officer 5(1). If we look at this law, it is contrary to the Indian Succession Act and Articles 21, 246, and 300 of the Constitution. Further Sections 10, 13, 14, 15, 25, 34, 36, and 46 of this AP Land Titling Act are unconstitutional. Apart from this, the GO 512 issued for this act’s implementation was kept a secret.”

Naidu said, “This is a very dangerous law. I and Pawan Kalyan gave a very clear assurance to the people that we would repeal this law. If that government comes again, we are in a situation whereby our property and we will not be protected.”

The CM added, “Among the first five signatures we put, one was on this Land Titling Act, meant for its cancellation. The proposal was approved in the first Cabinet meeting. In the first Assembly Session, we introduced a Bill to repeal the Law. We will protect the people's property and lives.”