Tamil Nadu: Waqf board attempts to grab land belonging to Dalit Community issued to them 40 years ago

Once again the controversial Waqf Board was caught grabbing land illegally, this time in Tamil Nadu. The Arunthathiyar Community was issued with land in Erode District by the government, more than 40 years ago. This land has become a subject of dispute since the Waqf Board started claiming that the land belongs to it.

Notably, the villagers of Anganakaundan Puthur village located in the Komarapalayam Panchayat of Sathyamangalam Circle in Erode District are facing trouble since Waquf Board asserted ownership over their land.

What happened?

As per the reports, in 1980, the Tamil Nadu government allocated three-and-a-half acres of land to the Scheduled Caste Arunthathiyar community after they were affected by the floods. This land provided shelter to as many as 75 families of the Arunthathiyar community.

After the government allotted the land to the community people the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department granted 3 cents of land to each family to build their houses. These families have been living over the land for more than 40 years now, the region is now called as Periyar Nagar.

These families are facing troubles and are shattered as Waqf Board claimed its right over the land. Waqf Board is an institution responsible for managing properties donated for religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law, is now claiming ownership of the land in question.

Other than the mental pressure of land being taken away these families are facing other problems as obstacles in transferring land titles, registering deeds, and availing loans for housing construction.

Victim’s plight

While interacting with Hindu Tamil, Pandian, a resident of the village, shared his plight. He said, “We were given this land by the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department after we were displaced by floods. We have lived here for 40 years, built our homes, and even named our settlement.”

He added, “In this situation, a few days ago, when one of the residents passed away and his son attempted to transfer the land’s title to his name, authorities instructed him to obtain the deed from the registration department. Upon visiting the Sathyamangalam registration office, they informed him that the land on which his house stood was under the ownership of the Waqf Board. They further advised him to secure a clearance certificate from the Waqf Board to proceed with the title change.”

“Now, due to the Waqf Board’s claim, our basic rights are being denied. We cannot sell our houses, get loans, or even continue the construction of houses under government schemes,” he said.

People from the Arunthathiyar community belong to the Schedule Caste and sustain their life by working as daily wage labourers The revelation that the Waqf board is asserting ownership over the land they have inhabited for over four decades has left them shocked and in deep distress.

Following the claims made by the Waqf Board, the residents in the area have submitted petitions to various government officials, including those from the Revenue Department and Gobi RTO. The residents have been struggling and running from post to pillars for the last six months, but to no avail. Regardless of the seriousness of the issue, the natives are being troubled as no official is addressing their plight.

What did the activists say?

The Hindu Tamil quoted a revenue department official who acknowledged the issue, stating, “The problem with the Waqf Board’s claim of ownership is widespread in the district. The Registration Department is working in accordance with the directives of the Waqf Board. Efforts are being made to compile accurate information about Waqf Board-owned lands in Erode District to resolve this issue in stages.”

Citing the current situation a religious and cultural organisation, Hindu Munnai condemned the DMK Government’s role in this. The organisation from their official Twitter account wrote, “There are indications that the Waqf Board intends to take control of the land that was rightfully allocated by the government to the residents near Sathyamangalam and potentially settle members of the Muslim community there. Does the Dravidian model government endorse these actions of the Waqf Board? We will not remain passive observers if the Waqf Board, enjoying the backing of the DMK government, endeavors to encroach upon Hindu lands, temples, and state-owned properties. The government should take measures to restore the lands seized by the Waqf Board.”

Similiar incidents from past

In September 2022, Organiser reported a similar attempt made by the Waqf Board where they claimed the ownership of an entire village. The board claimed that the whole Thiruchendurai village in Tiruchirapalli belongs to them. The incident came to light after the sub-registrar asked one of the sellers to obtain NOC from the Waqf board in order to sell his land.

The seller questioned why he should get a NOC from the Waqf Board to sell land that he purchased in 1992, the sub-registrar reportedly told him that this is the procedure for any land to be deeded in Tiruchendurai village. He was also shown a copy of the 250-page Waqf Board letter to the Registration Department along with documents that the entire village belongs to them and that those who come to register a deed for a land in the village, should get a NOC from them.

In that letter, the Waqf Board has said that tens of thousands of acres of land all over Tamil Nadu are theirs. Rajagopal later shared his ordeal to the villagers who are now concerned about the takeover of their lands by the Waqf Board.

Organiser reported a similar incident in January this year where lands held by Hindus in Muslim predominant Ranipet and Vellore area were claimed as Waqf board properties.