Telangana High Court Rejects Bureaucrats’ Pleas in Nagaram Bhoodan Land Case; Stay Order Remains Intact
In a ruling that carries weight for senior government officials, the Telangana High Court has turned down interim petitions filed by multiple IAS and IPS officers who had requested the lifting of a stay on land dealings connected to Bhoodan Yajna Board plots in Nagaram village, located in Maheshwaram mandal of Rangareddy district.
Court Upholds Ban on Land Transfers in Disputed Survey Areas
Justice K. Lakshman dismissed the officers’ applications, reaffirming an earlier directive that prohibits Revenue and Registration departments from modifying or transferring ownership of plots listed under Survey Nos. 181, 182, 194, and 195. The original stay was issued in April 2025 following accusations of widespread irregularities in land transactions involving these parcels.
Origins of the Dispute: Allegations of Misuse of Bhoodan Lands
The legal challenge began when local resident Birla Mallesh filed a petition asserting that the lands in question were originally donated to the Bhoodan Yajna Board—a trust created to allocate land to the underprivileged—and should not have been sold or registered in the names of private individuals, including high-ranking IAS and IPS officers.
Mallesh claimed that despite repeated appeals, officials from the Stamps and Registration department and the Revenue wing failed to intervene or investigate the alleged illegal transfers. He also urged the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to examine potential benami transactions and money laundering linked to the land deals.
In response to these concerns, the High Court had earlier directed authorities to classify the disputed plots as restricted properties, barring any further transactions.
Officials’ Challenge Fails to Sway the Court
Following the stay, several bureaucrats approached the court seeking to overturn the order, arguing that the land sales were legitimate and properly documented. A Division Bench had previously declined to intervene, suggesting that the matter be taken up by a single judge.
Justice Lakshman, after reviewing the case, dismissed four interim pleas on Friday, stating that the seriousness of the allegations warranted continuation of the stay.
Additional Petitions Dismissed, Fresh Legal Options Allowed
In parallel proceedings, the High Court also rejected two other writ petitions:
One filed by A. Ramulu, who sought the formation of a Commission of Inquiry against three Revenue officials and certain private parties over alleged unauthorized land mutations in Survey Nos. 194 and 195.
Another by Birla Mallesh, who requested certified copies of mutation records. While the court declined to issue them directly, it granted him permission to apply through the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) and other relevant authorities.
Justice Lakshman clarified that if the requested documents are not provided, the petitioner retains the right to file a new writ or pursue alternative legal remedies.
Key Takeaways from the Nagaram Bhoodan Land Case
Telangana HC maintains stay on land transactions in Nagaram’s Bhoodan plots.
Allegations involve fraudulent sale of land originally meant for the landless.
ED investigation sought into suspected financial misconduct involving senior officials.
Related petitions for inquiry and document access were dismissed, but administrative channels remain open for petitioners.
