In a glaring failure of land administration, the Telangana government continues to withhold nearly Rs 88 crore in refunds owed to thousands of citizens who cancelled their land registration slots. This systemic issue persists despite a change in government and the introduction of the Bhu Bharati portal, intended to fix the flaws of the previous Dharani system.
Mounting Pile of Unprocessed Refunds
Recent data presented in the state assembly reveals a staggering backlog. Out of a total of 31,314 refund applications, a massive 26,740 applications—roughly 85%—remain pending with district collectors across the state. Even more concerning is that among the 4,574 applications marked as "processed," the funds have not actually reached the applicants.
In a written reply, Principal Secretary (Revenue) Lokesh Kumar disclosed that over the past five years, only Rs 12.97 crore has been refunded for cancelled bookings. In contrast, a colossal Rs 87.60 crore is still due to be paid to farmers and property buyers.
District-Wise Breakdown and Legal Battles
The problem is widespread, with some districts showing particularly high numbers. Rangareddy district tops the list with 3,961 pending applications, of which a mere three were processed by the collector. It is followed by Sangareddy (2,993 pending), Nalgonda (1,950), and Vikarabad (1,839).
The prolonged delays, stretching for years, have pushed desperate applicants to seek judicial intervention. Kesaram Damodar Reddy, awaiting a refund of about Rs 1.54 lakh since cancelling his slot in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri in July 2021, filed a contempt petition against Principal Secretary (Finance) Sandeep Kumar Sultania last July. Similarly, Kesari Amukta Malyada approached the court after failing to receive a Rs 2.25 lakh refund for a slot cancelled in Rangareddy in July 2023.
Systemic Flaws and Blame Game
The refund crisis stems from a mandatory process where individuals must book a slot at the tahsildar office and pay the full registration amount upfront—often several lakhs of rupees—to register agricultural land. While one rescheduling is permitted, a full cancellation legally entitles the applicant to a refund after some deductions.
However, applicants allege that refunds are not issued by the government unless a court order is secured. This complaint spans both the previous BRS regime and the current Congress administration. District collectors, in turn, point fingers at the state finance department, stating that even after they recommend refunds, the necessary funds are not released.
"The government is supposed to refund the amount within a week after slot cancellation. Even when courts direct payments within four weeks, those orders are ignored and payments are not made," said Gummi Rajakumar Reddy, an advocate and RTI activist. He highlighted that many affected individuals lack the resources for legal battles, and even those who win in court are forced to file contempt cases to get their money.
Official sources cite payment disputes, disagreements over land rates, and other issues as reasons for cancellations. A significant surge in refund requests was noted in 2023-24, attributed to a slowdown in the real estate sector and the assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
