Unchecked Expansion

The Karnataka Waqf Board’s recent claim over Bidar Fort, a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India for over seven decades, has sparked alarm and triggered controversy. This development, compounded by similar land disputes in Maharashtra and Telangana, has ignited tensions across southern India. Citizens, conservation authorities and temple trustees alike are increasingly concerned that the Waqf Board’s expansive reach over public, private, and religious lands might not only disrupt land ownership but also escalate communal divides.

The Bidar Fort, a 15th-century historical landmark, was reclassified as waqf property by the Karnataka Waqf Board in 2005, a move that went largely unnoticed until recently. Local authorities, including Bidar’s deputy commissioner and ASI officers, expressed shock at the board’s assertion, especially since ASI has managed the fort for decades. The Waqf board’s inclusion of Bidar’s historically significant monuments under its jurisdiction has raised serious governance concerns, with authorities confirming they were unaware of such claims. Meanwhile, the Waqf Board has also extended its reach to nearby villages like Dharmapur and Chatnalli in Bidar taluk, marking 26 acres under Survey no. 87 in Dharmapur village. These areas, previously outside the board’s scope, have now been reclassified as waqf properties, causing uncertainty among farmers, schools, and local communities.

The board’s actions in Karnataka are part of a broader trend of similar land claims in other states, including Maharashtra and Telangana. In Maharashtra, the Waqf Board’s assertion over 40 acres surrounding the Kanifnath Temple in Ahmednagar had led to a confrontation with temple trustees, who argue that historical records confirm the land’s ownership by the temple. The dispute has escalated as the Waqf Board has installed signs claiming ownership, intensifying tensions. In Telangana, the Waqf Board’s declaration over 750 acres in Malkajgiri district has frozen property transactions across several residential neighbourhoods, with locals decrying the lack of prior notification.

The Waqf Board’s growing reach has stoked fears that these actions are part of a broader, more politically motivated strategy. Intelligence officials warn that the Waqf Board’s claims over properties, spanning agricultural, temple, and residential lands across Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, could fuel secessionist sentiments. The rise in such disputes has led some to see the Waqf Board’s actions as land-grabbing, disproportionately affecting Hindu and Christian communities in these regions.

The increasing influence of the Waqf Board in land ownership could lead to destabilizing communal and territorial rifts. If left unchecked, the Waqf Board’s expanding power could set a dangerous precedent, challenging property rights and communal harmony. It is imperative for the central and state governments to take swift action to prevent these claims from spiralling into a full-scale political crisis.