ULC (Urban Land Ceiling act)

🔹 What is ULC (Urban Land Ceiling)?

• Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 (ULC Act) was introduced by the Government of India to control the concentration of urban land in the hands of a few and to prevent land speculation.
  
  

• It applied to several urban areas of the then Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana).
  
  

• The law placed a ceiling (limit) on the extent of vacant land that an individual or family could hold in notified urban areas.
  
  

🔹 ULC Register

The ULC Register is the official government record maintained by the Revenue/ULC authorities. It includes:

1. Survey Number / Plot details – location of the urban land.
   
   

2. Owner’s Name – person/organization holding the land.
   
   

3. Extent of Land – total land in sq. meters or acres.
   
   

4. Ceiling Limit Applied – permissible limit under ULC.
   
   

5. Excess Land Declared – extent declared surplus by government.
   
   

6. Status – whether exempted, retained, allotted, or taken over by Government.
   
   

🔹 Importance

• Proof of Status: Confirms whether a property falls under ULC proceedings.
  
  

• Ownership Clarity: Buyers and developers use it to verify that the land is free from ULC restrictions.
  
  

• Legal Validity: Many court/property disputes refer to ULC register entries to establish surplus/retained status.
  
  

• Government Use: For land redistribution, housing schemes, or allotments.
  
  

🔹 Current Relevance in Telangana

• The Urban Land Ceiling Act (1976) was repealed in 1999 (Andhra Pradesh adopted repeal in 2008).
  
  

• However, old ULC records still matter because:
  
  

  • Many lands were declared surplus but not yet taken over.
    
    

  • Some properties are still under litigation.
    
    

  • Banks and buyers still insist on a ULC clearance certificate before registration.
    
    

🔹 Where to Access the ULC Register

• District Collectorate – Urban Land Ceiling Section
  
  

• Mandal Revenue Office (MRO) / Tahsildar office
  
  

• HMDA / GHMC (for Hyderabad lands)
  
  

• Archives / Dharani portal (where digitized)

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Under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 (ULC Act), the landholding limit (ceiling) varied depending on the category of city and its population. The idea was to prevent individuals/families from holding large chunks of vacant urban land.

🔹 Ceiling Limits (as per ULC Act, 1976)

The maximum vacant land an individual/family could hold:

1. Category A cities (largest metros)
   
   

   • Examples: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai
     
     

   • Limit: 500 sq. meters
     
     

2. Category B cities
   
   

   • Population between 10 lakh and 20 lakh (e.g., Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kanpur)
     
     

   • Limit: 1,000 sq. meters
     
     

3. Category C cities
   
   

   • Population between 2 lakh and 10 lakh
     
     

   • Limit: 1,500 sq. meters
     
     

4. Category D towns
   
   

   • Population below 2 lakh (but notified under the Act)
     
     

   • Limit: 2,000 sq. meters
     
     

🔹 Important Notes

• Any land above the ceiling was declared “surplus” and vested in the Government.
  
  

• Some exemptions applied for industrial use, educational institutions, housing societies, or government-approved schemes.
  
  

• In Andhra Pradesh/Telangana, the Act was in force until it was repealed in 2008.
  
  

• Even though repealed, old ULC clearance is still needed for property transactions in Hyderabad and other urban areas.
  
  

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🔹 Land Ceiling Limits – Hyderabad & Telangana (as per ULC Act, 1976)

1. Hyderabad (Municipal Corporation limits)
   
   

   • Categorized as a Category B city (population >10 lakh at the time).
     
     

   • Ceiling limit: 1,000 sq. meters per family unit (~10,764 sq. ft).
     
     

   • Any excess vacant land had to be declared to the government.
     
     

2. Other Urban Areas in Telangana
   
   

   • Towns with 2–10 lakh population (Warangal, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Khammam etc.) → 1,500 sq. meters.
     
     

   • Towns with less than 2 lakh population but notified under the Act → 2,000 sq. meters.
     
     

3. Family Unit Definition under ULC
   
   

   • A family unit = husband + wife + up to 2 minor children.
     
     

   • If multiple major children existed, they were treated as separate family units for ceiling purposes.
     
     

🔹 Practical Impact in Hyderabad

• Many landowners holding more than 1,000 sq. m. of vacant land had to declare it as “excess”, and it vested with the Government of Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana).
  
  

• Large tracts around Hyderabad were taken over under ULC, though some remained under dispute or exemption.
  
  

• Even after repeal in 2008, banks, buyers, and courts often insist on a ULC clearance certificate for urban properties to confirm no surplus land is attached.
  
  

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🔹 What is Section 10(6) of ULC Act?

• Section 10 of the ULC Act deals with vesting of excess vacant land in the State.
  
  

• Sub-section (6) states:
  
  
  After the land has been declared surplus and vested in the Government, any person who is in possession of that land must surrender/deliver it to the State. If they fail to do so, the Government has the right to take possession, using force if necessary.
  
  
  

🔹 ULC 10(6) List

• The ULC 10(6) list is a register/record maintained by the Revenue & ULC authorities showing:
  
  

  1. Survey Number / Plot Number
     
     

  2. Extent of Land (sq. m./acres)
     
     

  3. Owner’s Name / Declarant
     
     

  4. ULC Proceedings Number
     
     

  5. Date of Notification under 10(3) (vesting with Govt.)
     
     

  6. Date of Possession under 10(6) (physical possession taken by Govt.)
     
     

  7. Status – Vacant land vested, allotted, or under litigation.
     
     

🔹 Importance of 10(6) List

• It proves whether the Government has actually taken physical possession of the surplus land.
  
  

• If a property is in the 10(6) list, it generally means the government owns it.
  
  

• Buyers, banks, and developers must check this list before any transaction to avoid disputes.
  
  

• In Telangana, many lands are under 10(3) (vested) but not under 10(6) (physical possession not taken) — in such cases, owners still claim rights and go to court.
  
  

🔹 Where to Check the ULC 10(6) List in Telangana

• District Collector’s Office – ULC Section (Hyderabad District especially)
  
  

• MRO/Tahsildar offices for respective towns/cities
  
  

• HMDA/GHMC (for Hyderabad urban limits)
  
  

• Sometimes available in RTI replies or Dharani portal (if digitized)