Telangana government assures Dalit land protection amid legal rulings

Telangana Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy has assured Dalit and tribal communities that the state government will not seize their land. The minister clarified that the administration's objective is to verify land records and resolve disputes rather than acquire property, dismissing claims of land grabbing as malicious propaganda intended to incite panic.

This assurance follows reports that revenue authorities requested 120 Dalit farmers in Erravalli village to present ownership documents. The move follows Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s announcement of an inquiry into a farmhouse in Erravalli, which the Chief Minister alleged includes 388 acres of government land.

Separately, the Telangana High Court has cautioned revenue authorities against issuing land rights, or 'pattas', for forest lands. Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti ruled that revenue officials cannot confer rights over forest property, even under pressure from ministers, and emphasized that the forest department must be consulted in such matters. The court highlighted the need for better coordination between revenue and forest departments to prevent illegal encroachments and ensure compliance with Supreme Court protections for forest lands.