Thousands of Waqf Properties Reclassified as Government Land, Sparking Legal and Administrative Battles
Mohammad bin Ismail | Clarion INdia
NEW DELHI — The issue of Waqf properties in Uttar Pradesh has become a flashpoint of controversy, with the state government and the Waqf Board locked in a bitter dispute over ownership. While the Waqf Board claims these lands as its own, the Uttar Pradesh government has reclassified thousands of such properties as government land, leading to a legal and bureaucratic stalemate.
At the heart of the dispute is the reclassification of Waqf properties — lands traditionally used for religious, charitable, and community welfare purposes — as government-owned. According to official records, these properties are registered as Waqf, but state authorities have increasingly categorised them as government land, citing their use for public purposes. The JPC’s findings reveal a staggering pattern: in districts like Shahjahanpur, Rampur, and Ayodhya, thousands of Waqf properties have been reclassified as government land.
For instance, in Shahjahanpur, out of 2,589 Waqf properties, 2,371 are now recorded as government-owned. Similarly, in Rampur, 2,363 of 3,365 Waqf properties have been reclassified, and in Ayodhya, 2,116 of 3,652 Waqf properties are now listed as government land. This trend is consistent across other districts, including Jaunpur, Bareilly, Lakhimpur Kheri, Moradabad, and Meerut, where hundreds of Waqf properties have been similarly claimed by the state.
The total number of Waqf properties under dispute is enormous. The Waqf Board claims that 57,792 properties, covering 11,712 acres, are being wrongfully classified as government land. The state, however, argues that these lands fall under the category of public use in the Revenue Department’s records and cannot be donated or transferred.
A significant factor fueling the dispute is the delay in transferring these properties to the Waqf Board. Despite being registered in the Waqf Board’s records, many properties have not been formally transferred to its custody, creating a legal vacuum that the state has exploited. “These properties are supposed to serve the needs of the community, but due to inefficiencies and delays, they are being misclassified and claimed by the government,” said a local Waqf Board official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The lack of timely action by the Waqf Board has led to widespread frustration within the Muslim community. In over 40 districts, including Aligarh, Etah, Kasganj, and Ayodhya, not a single Waqf property has been formally transferred to the Waqf Board’s records in tehsil offices. In some areas, such as Mahoba and Sonbhadra, discrepancies are even more glaring, with properties registered in the gazette but missing from the Waqf Board’s records.
“This is a direct result of negligence by the Waqf Board,” said Syed Imran Ali, a local activist. “Had the properties been properly transferred and maintained, we would not be facing such a dispute. These lands are meant for the welfare of the community, but instead, they are being lost to bureaucratic inefficiency.”
The ongoing legal and administrative battle has raised questions about the Waqf Board’s governance and its ability to protect the interests of the Muslim community. Critics argue that the failure to transfer these properties on time has allowed the state to gain control over lands that rightfully belong to the Waqf.
The future of these Waqf properties remains uncertain. For now, the Waqf Board and the Uttar Pradesh government are locked in a stalemate, with no clear resolution in sight.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Waqf (Amendment) bill report has been table in Parliament on Thursday (Feb 13) amid major uproar in both houses of Parliament
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, called the report “unconstitutional” and “fake.” He claimed that multiple members had submitted dissent notes, but the majority view was forced through without due consideration.
The dispute is particularly significant because these properties are intended to serve as resources for religious, educational, and community welfare. Instead, they have become a source of legal entanglements, with both sides claiming ownership. “These lands should be used for the welfare of the community, not as tools in a political or bureaucratic game,” said a local politician, speaking under anonymity.
The fate of Waqf properties in Uttar Pradesh now hinges on the central government and the judicial system. Until a clear decision is made, the situation will remain a contentious issue in the state’s socio-political landscape. For now, both the Waqf Board and the state government must work towards resolving the discrepancies in land classification, restoring the lands that rightfully belong to the Waqf, and ensuring that these properties are used for their intended purposes.
