Land Records, Property and Revenue Administration
This domain tests endowment land titles, records, leases, encroachment and eviction. AP endowment lands often originate as devadaya or dharmadayam inams, and the record must show the institution as owner. Questions often turn on whether possession, lease or construction is lawful.
Core rules and concepts
- Records: survey number, adangal/pahani, Record of Rights, title deed, mutation and boundary stones.
- Leases: ordinarily by public auction or tender, with a written agreement, prescribed period and statutory sanction where required.
- Alienation: sale, mortgage or exchange of endowment property is generally prohibited without sanction.
- Encroachment: identify the encroacher, issue notice, evict under the Act and resume possession; serious cases may attract the land-grabbing law.
- Revenue: rent collection, arrears, irrigation cess and land conversion must be monitored.
Worked example
Temple land is leased for ten years by private negotiation, and the lessee builds a shop. Reasoning: a long lease and construction require sanction; the lease is irregular and the construction is an encroachment. Answer: eviction and resumption, not regularisation by mere long possession.
Traps that cost marks
Assuming long possession creates title; confusing patta with absolute ownership; ignoring inam conditions; and failing to check the Record of Rights before replying to a notice.