Akbaruddin Owaisi calls for action on waqf land encroachment

AIMIM MLAs petition for protection of Waqf properties in Telangana, restoration of affected lands and settlement of compensation dues to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad on Friday. | Photo credit: ANI

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chairman Akbaruddin Owaisi on Friday submitted a statement to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy highlighting the huge scale of encroachment on Waqf land and suggested remedial measures, including bringing the verified property plans of the Waqf Board in line with Section 22-A of the Registration Act. He also urged a “pause” in the auction of land in Raidurg claimed by Jamia Nizamia Islamic Seminary.

Mr. Owaisi said that the first survey of waqf survey identified 33,929 institutions with 77,538.61 acres of which 57,423.91 acres were reported under encroachment, suggested that the registration department bring the Waqf property plans in line with Section 22-A(1)(c) of the Registration Act.1908 of the Registration Act.

“The list of prohibited properties must be consistent with revenue records and zoning records. Deletion or change should require a reasoned decision by the appropriate authority, notice to the board and compliance with court orders,” he wrote.

Other proposals included the completion of a second Waqf survey, which was ordered in March 2001 and said to have been submitted in 2014. The survey reportedly identified 13,610 additional institutions covering 3,072 acres, with MrOwaisi demanding a full report and completion of the statutory notification process.

Touching on the land at Raidurg, which was said to belong to the Jamia Nizamia Islamic Seminary, he asked for a “pause” on further auctions and conveyances by the state corporation or the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, stating that the land in question was in Survey No. 83/83-1 until the claims were “investigated and appropriate judicial directions obtained”. “The institution’s claim is listed as 510.35 acres; a certified deed and survey plan must state whether this means decimal acres or acres and guntas,” he said.

The Jamia Nizamia land issue had snowballed earlier, with several people, organizations and members of political parties criticizing the government for trying to auction the land and expressing displeasure with the Islamic seminary, saying it had not spoken up enough on the issue.

Published – 19 Sep 2026 0:13 IST