HYDERABAD — A long-running dispute over a large parcel of land linked to Jamia Nizamia has resurfaced after the Telangana Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC) proceeded with the auction of land claimed to be Waqf property, triggering fresh legal and administrative questions.
According to official correspondence and documents cited by the Telangana State Waqf Board, the land—measuring approximately 510 acres and 35 guntas—was declared Waqf property through a registered deed linked to historical figures, including Ghazi Yar Jung Bahadur and Ghaziuddin Ahmed of Sultanpura, based on earlier charitable endowments.
A senior representative associated with the institution said, “This land has been recorded as Waqf in official records for decades. Any action taken without resolving ownership through the courts is deeply concerning.”
The Telangana Industrial Development Corporation issued a notification on May 6 for the auction of land in Survey No. 83/1. The auction reportedly proceeded despite objections and public notices issued by Jamia Nizamia, which stated that the matter was sub judice before the Telangana High Court.
A legal notice published in local newspapers at the time warned that ownership of the land was under dispute and that the matter was pending before the High Court.
Despite these objections, the auction was completed, with reports indicating that the land fetched a high valuation per acre. At the time of reporting, officials involved in the process had not issued a detailed public clarification regarding the dispute.
The Wakq Board maintains that records dating back to the 1990s, along with subsequent correspondence with the Stamps and Registration Department, consistently identify the property as Waqf land.
A senior official familiar with the records said, “Our documents clearly show continuous recognition of this property as Waqf land. The legal position has not yet been conclusively settled by the court.”
The Board has also referred to communications issued between 1993 and 1997, as well as in 2010, which it says reaffirm the Waqf status of the property and reference earlier legal proceedings.
The dispute is currently under consideration before the Telangana High Court in CRP No. 3206 of 2023, challenging earlier proceedings in Waqf Tribunal Case OS No. 196 of 2016. The High Court has admitted the petition, and the matter remains pending.
Legal representatives involved in the case argue that no final judgment has yet been delivered. A counsel associated with the matter said, “The case is still pending before the High Court. Any assumption that the issue has been finally settled would be premature.”
Officials from the Waqf Board and the Jamia Nizamia management are expected to pursue further legal remedies, including seeking cancellation of the auction and restoration of the disputed property if the court rules in their favour.
A person associated with the administration said, “We are compiling all relevant documents and will take the necessary legal steps to protect the property.”
Meanwhile, state authorities have not issued a detailed public statement addressing the legal status of the auctioned land in light of the ongoing court proceedings.
The matter continues to evolve, with both administrative records and judicial review expected to play a key role in determining the final status of the property
