Hyderabad Collector informs Waqf Board CEO about the transfer of record room control, sealed in 2017 under KCR government
HYDERABAD — The Telangana Revenue Department has formally handed back control of the Waqf Board’s record room to the body after nearly nine years, reversing administrative arrangements made in November 2017 during the tenure of then Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.
The development was communicated through an official letter issued by Hyderabad District Collector Dr Priyanka Alaa to the Chief Executive Officer of the Telangana State Waqf Board, Mohammed Asadullah.
According to the letter, the decision aims to facilitate the transfer of older records and support the uploading of Waqf property details to the Government of India’s UMEED portal, which is being used for digitisation and central documentation of endowment properties.
A senior official said, “The objective is to streamline access to records and ensure that all Waqf property data is properly digitised and updated on the national portal.”
In 2017, the state government had ordered the sealing of the record room under the Revenue Department, citing concerns about possible tampering of land records. Following this, the Hyderabad Collector was appointed as custodian, and a tahsildar was stationed at the Nampally Haj House to manage file access and retrieval.
The arrangement placed the record room under administrative supervision, while still allowing controlled access for official work.
Explaining the earlier system, an official familiar with the process said, “The records were not completely inaccessible. A tahsildar supervised access, and files were issued as required for official purposes.”
The record room contains decades of historical, legal, and administrative documents related to Waqf properties across Telangana. These include materials from the Nizam era written in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and English.
The documents relate to thousands of religious endowments, including mosques, dargahs, graveyards, and other charitable properties spread across the state.
Officials say these records form a crucial legal and historical archive for determining ownership and management of Waqf assets.
In his communication, Collector Dr Priyanka Alaa noted that the Andhra Pradesh State Waqf Board’s older records remain with the Telangana Board despite repeated requests from state and central authorities for their transfer.
The letter also highlighted that the Waqf Board CEO had requested the release of the record room to complete digitisation work and upload property details to the UMEED portal.
According to official data shared by the Waqf Board, nearly 35,000 Waqf properties in the state have already been uploaded to the portal. These include 2,800 properties predating the Central Waqf Act of 1954 and nearly 33,929 properties recorded after subsequent surveys.
A senior Waqf Board official said, “Once the data entry is fully completed, the Centre will review how these properties are managed and whether administrative control remains with the Board or reverts to district authorities.”
The issue of record accessibility had also been raised in community meetings. At a gathering held on 15 June, organised by religious and social groups, participants had called for easier access to the record room.
They expressed concerns that limited access to documents was affecting the resolution of property disputes and complicating efforts to address encroachments on Waqf land.
A participant at the meeting said, “Without proper access to records, it becomes difficult to resolve disputes or protect community properties effectively.”
Waqf Board CEO Mohammed Asadullah clarified that access to the record room was never fully cut off during the nine years. He explained that work continued under supervision.
“The record room was always accessible to us. The only change was that a tahsildar was appointed to supervise the records. We used to obtain files through him for official work. Now, full control is being handed back,” he said.
With the restoration of control, the Waqf Board is expected to accelerate digitisation and documentation efforts. Officials say the move will help in updating property records and reducing administrative delays.
At the same time, further coordination between the state government and the central authorities is expected as the UMEED portal expands its database of Waqf properties nationwide.
The development marks a significant administrative shift in the management of Waqf records in Telangana, with both documentation and legal oversight continuing to evolve.
