Muslim leaders question district administration’s move; Waqf Board vows legal fight, claims historical ownership with complete documents and registry
RAIPUR — A serious dispute has erupted between the Waqf Board and Raipur Municipal Corporation over a 4.62-acre piece of land in one of the city’s most expensive areas. The Waqf Board claims this land has been under its name since 1920, while the District Collector (DM) has declared it government land and handed it over to the Municipal Corporation.
The Waqf Board has strongly objected to this decision and is preparing to take legal action.
“This is no less than looting,” said Dr Salim Raj, Chairman of the Chhattisgarh Waqf Board. “Ghar basa nahin lutere aa gai (before we could even develop the property properly, it has been taken away from us illegally). We have all the valid documents, including the registry and Waqfnama. On what basis did the district administration hand over our land to the municipal body?”
The land in question, located in central Raipur, is reportedly worth crores and already has shops, houses, and a market built on it. Waqf officials say these structures were developed by Muslims over decades.
Mayor Meenal Chaubey of Raipur Municipal Corporation confirmed that the land has now been handed over to the corporation. “We are following the District Collector’s direction. The land is now part of the civic body’s property, and further steps are underway,” she said.
However, the Waqf Board remains firm in its stance. Board officials have argued that if the land belongs to the Municipal Corporation, then the administration must show its proof of ownership. “Where is the government’s registry or legal document? We have all original papers,” said one Waqf official.
The Waqf Board says it is ready to fight the case in court. “We will first approach the Revenue Board and, if needed, move to the high court,” said Dr Raj.
He further added, “This is not just about land; this is about our identity and rights. If 100-year-old documented Waqf properties can be taken away so easily, then no Muslim property is safe in India.”
Tensions have been rising since the new Waqf Amendment Act was passed, giving more powers to local authorities and district collectors. Many Muslim leaders and organisations have expressed fear that these changes will be used to target Waqf properties across the country.
“This land grab is a direct result of the recent amendments,” said advocate Iqbal Hussain, who is supporting the Board’s legal team. “The law now gives the District Collector unlimited power. They can decide the fate of a Waqf land without consulting the Waqf Board.”
The controversy has sparked sharp reactions from Muslim organisations and opposition leaders in Chhattisgarh. They see this not just as a legal issue but as a larger attack on the Muslim community.
“This government wants to erase the contributions and presence of Muslims in this country,” said local leader Shahid Qureshi. “The Waqf land is not just a property; it is our trust, our community’s asset. Taking it away like this is not justice.”
Local residents also expressed concern. “We have lived here for decades. Our fathers and grandfathers built these shops and houses. Suddenly, we are being told we are living on illegal land,” said Abdul Latif, a 60-year-old shopkeeper.
Another resident, 70-year-old Haji Imran, said, “Even during British rule, no one questioned our land. Now, in independent India, we are being asked to leave? Where should we go?”
This case is now being seen as a test for the Indian judiciary. Can documented Muslim properties, owned for over a century, be taken away with a single administrative order? Legal experts say this case could set a precedent for many others.
“It’s a very serious matter,” said Supreme Court advocate Nasir Ali. “If the courts do not stand by the law and the documents, it will give a green signal for more such takeovers.”
For now, the land remains under the control of the Municipal Corporation, but the legal fight is just beginning. The Waqf Board appears determined to go all the way to protect what it calls its rightful property.
“We are not begging,” Dr Salim Raj said firmly. “We are asking for what is legally and morally ours.”
This land dispute has opened up a larger conversation about the safety and future of Waqf properties in India, and whether Muslim heritage and legal rights will be respected by the state machinery. As the battle heads to court, thousands are watching — not just in Raipur, but across the country.
