A few land claims by Waqf which sparked controversy across India

The Waqf Boards across India have laid claim to numerous properties, including government-owned land, heritage sites, and even entire villages, leading to legal and political debates over ownership rights.

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According to reports, over 200 properties in Delhi, including those under the Land and Development Office (L&DO) and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), have been marked as Waqf properties. Notably, in 2010, the Delhi Waqf Board asserted ownership over Humayun’s Tomb, challenging the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Similarly, the Board sought permission for namaz at the Mughal Mosque within the Qutub Minar complex.

In 2014, the UPA government handed over 123 properties in Lutyens’ Delhi to the Delhi Waqf Board, a decision later scrutinized by the NDA government. More recently, in Prayagraj (2025), local Muslim groups claimed the Maha Kumbh Mela land, triggering disputes.

In Tamil Nadu’s Thiruchenthurai village, farmers faced financial distress as land sales required a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Waqf Board. Similar disputes emerged in Surat, Ernakulam, and Bengaluru, with the Board staking claims to municipal buildings, residential areas, and Eidgah grounds.

A particularly unusual claim arose in Bet Dwarka, Gujarat, where the Waqf Board sought ownership of two islands, leading the Gujarat High Court to reject their petition. These disputes continue to fuel discussions on the extent of Waqf jurisdiction and property rights in India.