A fresh controversy has surfaced in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, as the state’s Sunni Central Waqf Board has staked ownership claims over the historic 115-year-old Udai Pratap College (UP College), citing it as Waqf property. The claim has reignited tensions amidst discussions in the Parliament regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, leading to protests by students, staff, and college authorities.
The UP Sunni Central Waqf Board has declared that a significant portion of the 500-acre Udai Pratap College campus qualifies as Waqf property. The claim centers on the Chhoti Masjid Nawab Tok Mazarat Hujra, a mosque reportedly located within the college premises.
In 2018, Aale Atiq, Assistant Secretary of the Sunni Waqf Board in Lucknow, issued a formal notice to the college manager under the Waqf Act, 1995. The notice alleged that the mosque and associated land had been endowed as Waqf property by the Nawab of Tonk and demanded that it be registered under the Board’s control.
The Waqf Board instructed the college authorities to respond within 15 days to clarify objections or face action. According to the Board, such registration is mandatory for all endowed properties.
The college administration has categorically denied the Waqf Board’s claims, asserting that the land is owned by the Hivat Kshatriya School Endowment Trust, established in 1909. Under the Charitable Endowment Act, the Trust holds perpetual rights over the property, and any external claims are rendered void after the base year.
UN Sinha, the former secretary of the Udai Pratap Education Committee, responded to the Waqf Board’s 2018 notice by emphasising the historic significance of the college and the legality of its land ownership. He highlighted that the college, founded by Rajarshi Judeo, has been a beacon of education for over a century, serving thousands of students annually.
The Trust land, according to Anand Vijay, Vice President of the Udai Pratap College Old Students Association and Trust Secretary, cannot be sold or transferred under existing statutes. He further added that the property is managed by the Uttar Pradesh government and falls outside the jurisdiction of the Waqf Board.
In 2022, the Waqf Board attempted to carry out construction work at the Chhoti Masjid on the college premises. However, college authorities filed a complaint, leading to intervention by local police, which halted the activity. College Principal DK Singh accused the mosque’s caretakers of illegally tapping into the college’s electricity supply, which was subsequently disconnected.
Singh alleged that these actions are part of a broader agenda to assert control over the land, despite clear evidence of the college’s ownership under the Trust.
History of Udai Pratap College
Established in 1909 by Rajarshi Judeo, Udai Pratap College is one of the oldest educational institutions in Varanasi. The college initially operated under the Hivat Kshatriya School Endowment Trust, aimed at promoting education for the Kshatriya community and beyond.
Over time, the institution expanded to include several affiliated schools and colleges, including:
UP Degree College, Inter College, Rani Murar Balika Vidyalaya, Rajarshi Shishu Vihar, Rajarshi Public School
The campus spans 500 acres and educates over 20,000 students, making it a cornerstone of education in the region. In 1991, former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar declared the institution autonomous, further solidifying its legacy.
The Waqf Board’s renewed claim has ignited protests on the college campus, with students, faculty, and alumni uniting to defend the institution’s integrity. Protesters argue that the claim threatens the future of thousands of students and undermines the legacy of a historic institution. Demonstrators held placards and shouted slogans condemning the Waqf Board’s actions as politically motivated. They demanded government intervention to protect the college’s land and ensure the safety of its educational mission.
The controversy comes at a critical juncture as the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing winter session of Parliament. The Bill is expected to address loopholes in the existing Waqf Act, which has faced criticism for alleged misuse and lack of accountability.
College authorities and protestors alike view the timing of the Waqf Board’s claim as strategic, aiming to influence ongoing debates around Waqf laws. Principal DK Singh accused the Waqf Board of using the college as a pawn in a broader political agenda.
