Document Guide · Andhra Pradesh
How to Check Section 22A Prohibited Land in Andhra Pradesh — Complete Guide 2026
The Section 22A prohibited land check in Andhra Pradesh tells you whether a parcel is legally blocked from registration, covering assigned, ceiling, government, endowment, and court-attached land. Buying any of these without verification results in a void transaction. This guide covers how to check for free on registration.ap.gov.in, what each restriction type means, and the January 2026 rule changes that now allow cancellation of already-registered prohibited deeds.
Quick Reference
Also calledSection 22A Check / Prohibited Properties Check / 22A Prohibited List AP
Issued byRevenue Department and AP Registration and Stamps Department (IGRS AP)
Valid forCheck reflects live status; re-verify within 30 days of any transaction
CostFree on registration.ap.gov.in
Time takenInstant search result online
Online portalregistration.ap.gov.in/igrs/ppProperty AP
1
What is Section 22A Prohibited Land in Andhra Pradesh?
Definition
Section 22A of the Registration Act, 1908, as amended by AP, empowers the state government to prohibit registration of properties "opposed to public policy," including government, assigned, and ceiling surplus land. The AP Registration and Stamps Department maintains the prohibited list under this provision.
Section 22A groups restricted land into five distinct clauses. 22-A(1)(a) covers assigned land given to the landless poor for farming or housing. 22-A(1)(b) covers endowment land managed by the Endowments Department. 22-A(1)(c) covers ceiling surplus land declared under land reform acts. 22-A(1)(d) covers government-interest land. 22-A(1)(e) covers land where the government has a formally notified interest. Each clause carries a different legal basis, but the practical result is the same: the registration system blocks any sale deed the moment the survey number appears on the prohibited list. No amount of seller assurance, broker promise, or advance payment changes that outcome at the SRO window.
The check takes less than a minute on registration.ap.gov.in. Yet most buyers skip it and find out at registration day when the system auto-rejects the document. That is too late. Advance amounts paid before the check are not refundable through any quick process. For the prohibited properties AP check, you need only the District, Mandal, Village, and Survey Number , details available from the seller before any money changes hands.
State-specific note: In Andhra Pradesh, assigned land, ceiling surplus land, and government land listed under Section 22A cannot be purchased or registered. Checking the prohibited list on registration.ap.gov.in before any advance payment is the only protection.
2
How to Get 22A Prohibited Land Check in Andhra Pradesh
The Section 22A check is free, instant, and requires no login on registration.ap.gov.in. Have the District, Mandal, Village, and Survey Number ready before starting. No offline application exists for this check; it is purely a verification tool.
Online method (recommended)
1
Open the IGRS AP prohibited properties page Go directly to registration
ap.gov.in/igrs/ppProperty or open registration.ap.gov.in and click "Prohibited Properties" from the homepage.
2
Select property type and location Choose Urban or Rural property
Select District, Mandal, and Village from the dropdown menus.
3
Enter survey number or door number Type the Survey Number (for rural/agricultural land) or Door Number (for urban plots)
Click Search.
Check both the exact survey number and any parent survey number , a portion of a larger survey can be prohibited even if the parent is not fully listed.
4
Read the result If the survey number appears in the results, the land is prohibited
The screen shows the restriction clause (22A(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), or (e)) and the authority that notified it. If nothing appears, the land is not currently on the prohibited list.
Screenshot the result with the date visible and save it. Re-check within 30 days of any intended registration, because the list is updated regularly.
Offline method (Sub-Registrar Office)
1
Visit the Sub-Registrar Office for the property's jurisdiction Identify the SRO that covers the village where the property is located
Bring the Survey Number and seller's documents.
2
Request a prohibited property status confirmation Ask the SRO staff to confirm whether the survey number appears in the prohibited list held at their office
Local lists are also published by district collector offices.
3
Check Encumbrance Certificate alongside Request an EC for the property at the same visit
If the EC header reads "Prohibited Property 22A," registration is already blocked.
4
Escalate to District Collector if needed If a survey number is disputed as wrongly listed, the de-notification process starts at the District Collector's office
Confirm current de-notification procedure and timeline with the local Revenue Department.
Engage a local revenue lawyer for any 22A de-notification application; the process requires filing an application with supporting documents including original title deeds.
3
What Does the Section 22A Prohibited Land Check Contain in Andhra Pradesh?
The IGRS AP prohibited properties search result shows these five fields for any listed parcel.
| Field | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The specific parcel or plot identifier that is restricted | Confirm it matches the exact survey number in the Sale Deed being offered Village, Mandal, District | Location of the restricted parcel |
| The specific 22A sub-clause (a, b, c, d, or e) | Each clause has a different removal route; clause (a) assigned land cannot be bought; clause (e) may be removable with a Gazette notification Notifying Authority | Government body that added the property to the list |
Good sign: Survey number returns no results on the prohibited properties search, the Encumbrance Certificate shows no Section 22A flag, and the ROR 1B shows private patta ownership with no government or assigned land notation.
4
Common Issues With Section 22A Prohibited Land in Andhra Pradesh
The IGRS AP prohibited properties search result shows these five fields for any listed parcel.
Advance paid before checking the prohibited list
Sellers accept advances for prohibited land knowing the buyer will only discover the restriction at the SRO. Recovery of the advance through civil courts takes years. The check on registration.ap.gov.in takes one minute.
Fix: Run the prohibited properties check before signing any agreement or paying any advance, no exceptions.
Assigned land sold as private patta land
22-A(1)(a) assigned land is specifically given to the landless poor and cannot be sold under the AP Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Act, 1977. Brokers and sellers sometimes present these parcels with outdated or manipulated documents as clear private title.
Fix: Check the ROR 1B on Meebhoomi for any "assignment patta" notation, and cross-check the same survey number on the IGRS AP prohibited list. Both checks together are necessary.
Partially prohibited survey number sold as fully clear
A large survey number may be partially on the prohibited list while another portion is private. Sellers sometimes present the whole survey as clear when only a sub-division is clean.
Fix: Enter the exact sub-divided survey number in the prohibited properties search, not just the parent number. If sub-division hasn't happened yet, the entire parcel may be blocked at registration.
Post-registration cancellation under 2026 G.O.
Under G.O.Ms.No.2 issued January 2, 2026, AP Registrars now have authority under Rules 181-A and 181-D to cancel deeds registered on prohibited land, even after the registration is complete. A buyer who purchased prohibited land before 2026 thinking a completed registration was safe now faces cancellation proceedings.
Fix: If you own land previously registered on a potentially prohibited survey number, verify current status on registration.ap.gov.in immediately. Engage a revenue lawyer if the parcel shows up on the list.
Wrongly listed private land
The 2026 "Bhumi Nama Samvatsaram" reforms acknowledge that many genuinely private patta lands were incorrectly added to the Section 22A list over decades of administrative errors. In early 2026, five categories were authorised for removal including defence personnel lands and old pre-1954 assignments.
Fix: If your own land is wrongly listed, collect your original title deeds, ROR 1B, and Pattadar Passbook. Apply to the District Collector for de-notification. Under the 2026 special drive, error corrections on private lands are targeted within 15 to 45 days.
EC shows 22A flag but buyer missed it
An Encumbrance Certificate for any prohibited property carries a "Prohibited Property 22A" notation in its header. Some buyers receive EC printouts from sellers and skip the header, reading only the transaction entries.
Fix: Always read the full EC header before any transaction. A 22A flag in the EC header means the same survey number will fail the IGRS AP prohibited properties search. Both sources confirm the same restriction.
5
Why Section 22A Prohibited Land Check Matters for Land Buyers in Andhra Pradesh
No other pre-purchase check in AP is cheaper, faster, or more consequential than the Section 22A prohibited land verification.
Assigned and ceiling land simply cannot be purchased 22-A(1)(a) assigned land and 22-A(1)(c) ceiling surplus land are not available for private purchase at any price
Paying for them creates no legal title. The IGRS AP registration system blocks the deed automatically. There is no workaround, no special approval, and no exception for private buyers.
Registration system auto-blocks listed parcels The Sub-Registrar's office in AP cannot override the prohibited flag
The moment a sale deed for a 22A-listed parcel is submitted, the digital system rejects it on the spot. Sellers who claim they "know someone at the SRO" who will process it anyway are describing a criminal act under the January 2026 G.O.
Banks do not lend against prohibited land No bank in AP will approve a home loan, agricultural loan, or mortgage against a parcel flagged under Section 22A
The 22A land AP registration blocked status applies equally to financial transactions. A buyer who discovers the restriction after paying cannot use the land as collateral for any formal loan.
AP-specific: 2026 cancellation powers make past mistakes dangerous The January 2026 G
O.Ms.No.2 changes the risk calculation for everyone who has ever bought land in AP without running this check. Rules 181-A and 181-D now empower Registrars and the Inspector General to cancel already-registered deeds on prohibited land. Past transactions that were fraudulently registered are no longer safe by default.
Red flag: Any seller who says "don't worry about the prohibited list, the registration will go through" or who offers to arrange the SRO clearance for an extra fee is describing fraud. Check registration.ap.gov.in yourself before any payment.
Browse verified land in Andhra Pradesh
1acre.in lists verified land parcels across Andhra Pradesh with survey number references and APCRDA zone overlays, cross-checked against prohibited property data, so buyers can identify clean parcels before calling any seller.
Browse Verified Andhra Pradesh LandsFrequently Asked Questions
What is Section 22A prohibited land in Andhra Pradesh and why does it matter?
Section 22A of the Registration Act, 1908 allows AP to block registration of assigned, ceiling surplus, government, endowment, and court-attached land. Buying any of these creates no legal title. The IGRS AP registration system auto-rejects the deed at the SRO window.
How do I check if a property is prohibited in AP?
Go to registration.ap.gov.in/igrs/ppProperty, select Urban or Rural, choose District, Mandal, and Village, enter the Survey Number, and click Search. The result is instant and free. If the survey number appears, the land is prohibited from registration.
What types of land are prohibited under Section 22A in AP?
Assigned land given to landless poor, endowment and temple land, ceiling surplus land from land reform acts, government-owned land, and court-attached or notified government-interest land. Each falls under a different 22A sub-clause, but all block registration equally.
Can I buy assigned land or ceiling surplus land in Andhra Pradesh?
No. These are specifically listed under Section 22A(1)(a) and (c) and cannot be purchased. Assigned land is also protected under the AP Assigned Lands Prohibition of Transfers Act, 1977. No legal workaround exists for private buyers, regardless of price paid.
Is there a fee to check the prohibited properties list in AP?
No. The IGRS AP prohibited properties search on registration.ap.gov.in is completely free with no login required. The check is instant, covers all districts, and should be repeated within 30 days before any registration to reflect the most current list.
Can a property registered by mistake on 22A land be cancelled in AP?
Yes, since January 2, 2026. Under G.O.Ms.No.2, Rules 181-A and 181-D empower AP Registrars and the Inspector General to cancel deeds registered in violation of Section 22A, even after registration is complete. Previously registered fraudulent deeds are no longer protected.
How long does the 22A removal process take in AP in 2026?
Under the 2026 special drives, errors on genuinely private patta lands are targeted for resolution in 15 to 45 days. Assignment and ceiling cases take longer, typically 1 to 3 months. The process requires application to the District Collector with original title documents and ROR records.
What changed under G.O.Ms.No.2 January 2026 for Section 22A in AP?
The January 2026 G.O. introduced Rules 181-A and 181-D, giving Registrars power to cancel deeds on prohibited land after registration. It also authorised removal of five categories from the prohibited list including defence personnel lands, freedom fighter lands, and correctly identified private patta lands.