The Central Government is actively discussing introducing a revised bill in Parliament to curb the unchecked powers of the Waqf Board. This bill is expected to halt the Waqf Board’s authority to claim any land as its property and occupy it. The political discourse surrounding this issue has already begun.
Amidst this, it is crucial to understand the various cases of misuse of the Waqf Act that have emerged in the past. Let’s delve into those cases that expose the deceitful intentions of the Waqf Board.
False Claims of Waqf Over a Village in Tamil Nadu
In Tiruchi district, Tamil Nadu, lies a village named Thiruchenthurai. The Waqf Board has claimed ownership over the land of the 1500-year-old Manendiyavalli Chandrasekhar Swami Temple. The village and its surrounding areas encompass 369 acres.
In September 2022, farmer Rajgopal tried to sell his 1.2-acre land in the village. However, when he went to complete the sale formalities at the registrar’s office, he was informed that the land was not his but belonged to the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board. Rajgopal was asked to obtain an NOC from the Waqf Board.
This claim has left the farmer and other villagers astounded, as it affects not just the farmer but all residents of the village, which houses a 1500-year-old Hindu temple. It is outrageous that a 1400-year-old Waqf Board is making claims on a 1500-year-old temple.
Claims on Land in 18 Other Villages in Tamil Nadu
Additionally, the Waqf Board has staked its claim on land in 18 other villages in Tamil Nadu, asserting that 389 acres of land in these villages belong to them, based on a 1954 survey. A 220-page document has been submitted to the sub-registrar’s office by the Waqf Board, which has currently halted the sale of land by farmers.
Other Cases
In Jathlana village, Yamunanagar district, Haryana, the Waqf’s overreach was evident when land belonging to a Gurdwara was transferred to the Waqf Board, despite no history of a Muslim settlement or mosque on that land.
In Gujarat, in November 2021, the Surat Municipal Corporation headquarters was declared Waqf property. The justification given was that during Shah Jahan’s reign, the property was donated to the Waqf by the Emperor’s daughter, making the claim valid even after nearly 400 years.
In 2018, the Sunni Waqf Board argued before the Supreme Court that the Taj Mahal should be listed as Waqf property for practical purposes, claiming ownership by the Almighty. When asked by the Supreme Court to provide signed documents from Shah Jahan, the board claimed the monument belonged to the Almighty and had no signed documents but insisted on property rights nonetheless. This clearly demonstrates the Waqf Board’s blatant misuse of Waqf laws.
Waqf Board as a Tool for Extortion and Forced Conversions?
Experts on the Waqf Board’s cases state that there is no limit to where the Waqf Board will issue notices. They can declare any land as Waqf property at their discretion, causing unnecessary trouble for the actual landowners.
It is also reported that Waqf officials intimidate those from whom they wish to extort money by threatening to declare their land as Waqf property. Out of fear, these individuals may become compliant with Waqf officials and agree to unreasonable conditions.
Experts accuse the Waqf Board of exploiting its unlimited powers to force conversions among the poor. In tribal areas, people are given notices, and if they are troubled, they are told that converting to Islam would save their land. It is claimed that in underdeveloped areas of States like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra, where people are less educated, the Waqf Act has become a tool for forced conversions.
