Hyderabad, Feb. 19 -- The Telangana High Court has made it clear that sub-registrars do not have the authority to register assigned lands.

The court has directed the Rangareddy Collector to conduct a thorough investigation into a land dispute and to file criminal charges against the sub-registrar involved and any private individuals if the land is found to be assigned. The investigation is to be completed within three months.

The case involves 33 Guntas of assigned land in Survey 176/23 of Aziznagar, Moinabad Mandal, Rangareddy district, belonging to Anantharam Laxmaiah.

A dispute among the heirs led to some individuals converting the land to non-agricultural use and selling it. Other heirs filed a petition with the High Court, allegin...