Medchal-Malkajgiri, RR Sub-Registrar offices asked to stop registration of select survey numbers

After the registration department’s decision, residents of the two districts are concerned about whether their properties are on Waqf land, with many seeking legal options. Waqf land includes property donated by Islamic followers and is currently managed by the Waqf Board on behalf of the community.

Hyderabad: Amid the union government’s move to strip the Waqf Board of its powers to declare a property as its own through the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the State Registration and Stamps Department has reportedly asked the sub-registrar offices of Medchal-Malkajgiri and Rangareddy districts to stop the sale and purchase of properties in a few survey numbers as the Waqf board was claiming those to be its property.

Following the decision of the registration department, residents of these two districts are now worried and trying to find out whether their properties fall under the Waqf land. Many of them are even looking for legal remedies. The Waqf comprises property or land donated by followers of Islam, and is presently managed by the members of the community. The Waqf Board takes care of these properties.

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According to Malkajgiri sub-registrar R Srikant, the State Registration and Stamps Department Commissioner on September 19, issued orders asking the sub-registrar offices falling under the districts of Medchal-Malkajgiri and Rangareddy to put an hold on the sale and purchase of properties falling under survey numbers identified by the Waqf board.

The Waqf board was claiming that about 328 acres of dry land and 50 acres of wetland spread over 20 to 30 survey numbers in the Medchal-Malkajgiri district belongs to it, Srikant said, adding that the Registration and Stamps Department had asked the Waqf Board to send details of the Waqf properties through Form 6 under Rule 239(B) to prove their claims. “It will be very difficult to recover the Waqf lands as permanent structures have been built on them. Moreover, a majority of the occupants have all the legal documents since last 40 years,” he added.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the State Waqf Board has reportedly wrote a letter to the Collector of Medchal-Malkajgiri and Rangareddy along with the officials of the Registration Department stating that several lands in these two districts are related to the Waqf Board and should be included in the prohibited list. Interestingly, a majority of the people are not aware of the development as no such notices have been issued to these colonies by the revenue department or the municipal authorities. Only when the people are approaching the sub-registrar office for sale or purchase of properties does the issue come to light. “Two people came for registration falling under the survey numbers identified as Waqf properties. I asked them to approach the court and get permission for the sale deed,” Srikant said.

According to the first Waqf Survey, which was completed in 1989, there were as many as 33,929 properties, encompassing a total of 77,538 acres classified as waqf land. However, according to the Telangana State Waqf Board (TGSWB)’s data, nearly 75 percent — or 57,420 acres — have been encroached upon. A clear and formal account of the newer waqf properties and the extent of waqf lands is still awaited.

In all, there are 33,929 waqf institutions in the 10 combined districts of Telangana. Medak district has the highest number of waqf properties with an accumulated land extent of 23,910 acres, followed by Rangareddy at 14,785 acres, Mahabubnagar 11,500 acres and Adilabad 10,119 acres of land.