Hyderabad: Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy directed officials to treat every Section 22-A complaint as a responsibility and monitor it until final resolution. He said applicants should not have to repeatedly visit government offices seeking action.
The Minister said the Revenue Department had accelerated measures to address grievances involving lands placed on the prohibited properties list under Section 22-A. He assured people that they need not worry about genuine claims. The government would stand by rightful landholders and ensure justice for every eligible applicant, he said.
Ponguleti issued the directions during a teleconference with officials on Wednesday. He reviewed the functioning of the dedicated call centre established to receive Section 22-A complaints. Officials informed him that the call centre had received around 400 calls so far.
Section 22-A complaints to be tracked until closure
During the review, Ponguleti examined the nature of calls received and the progress made in resolving them. He also sought details about the issues generating the most complaints.
In addition, the Minister reviewed what information call centre staff provided to applicants. He sought details about the current position and applications concerning Section 22-A lands in four districts.
Ponguleti ordered officials not to merely register complaints and leave them unattended. Instead, they should forward complete applicant details immediately to the officials concerned.
Depending on the case, the information should reach the relevant tahsildar, Revenue Divisional Officer and sub-registrar. Officials should then continuously track the grievance until its resolution, he said. The Minister directed officers receiving Section 22-A complaints online through the call centre to respond immediately.
They should verify the facts of each complaint and conduct a comprehensive field-level examination. Officials should determine whether the applicant’s grievance was genuine and establish why the land entered the Section 22-A list.
They should also verify whether the applicant was eligible for relief. After completing the examination, officials should take a decision supported by clear reasons, Ponguleti said.
Section 22-A complaints must not force office visits
Ponguleti stressed that people should not have to make repeated rounds of government offices after reporting their problems.
He directed officials to examine pending applications already lying with sub-registrars, tahsildars, RDOs and district collectors. Moreover, applications received during the previous two or three days should also receive immediate attention.
The Minister instructed officials to devise a system that prevented fresh applications from accumulating. New cases should be examined and resolved regularly instead of being allowed to remain pending.
He asked the administration to treat resolution of the Section 22-A issue as a special task. Officials should remain continuously accessible to the public while handling these cases, he said.
Ponguleti also directed Revenue and Stamps and Registration officials to work in close coordination. The departments should ensure that applicants did not suffer because their cases involved more than one government office.
“Anyone who comes to a revenue office should leave with confidence that their problem will be resolved,” Ponguleti told officials.
He cautioned them against simply forwarding applications to another office and considering their responsibility complete.
“Do not wash your hands of an application by sending it to another office. Monitor it until the end. Earn people’s goodwill through your performance,” he said.
The Minister also warned officials against taking individual decisions that could cause difficulties for the public. Instead, he directed them to work in accordance with the government’s policies and objectives.
Ponguleti said the administration should provide complete assurance to genuine claimants while dealing with Section 22-A complaints. Officials, he stressed, should remain responsible for each case from its receipt until a clear decision was reached.