Waqf Land Row In Tamil Nadu And Kattukollai Villagers Protest: Explained (Photo on X @AskAnshul)
Vellore, Tamil Nadu: Around 150 families in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore have alleged that they have received notices declaring their land as Waqf property. After receiving the notice, families from Kattukollai village in Anaikattu Taluk marched to the Vellore District Collector’s office, demanding immediate intervention in the matter.
According to a report by Money Control, the notice was issued by F. Syed Satham, Hereditary Muthavalli, Kilandal (Nawab) Masjid & Hazrath Syed Ali Sulthan Sha Dargah, Virinchipuram. Satham has said that he gave the notice to the villagers who are residing there, claiming that he has all the records to prove that the land belongs to Waqf.
Read Also: After Waqf, RSS Calls Attention To ‘Questionable’ Possession Of Lands By Church
“It shows that from 1954, the mentioned property belonged to our Waqf. The villagers also know that the land belongs to the Masjid property. We spoke with them. They just have to pay the land rent to us and not the building rent or any other tax…I have given notice to them to pay the land rent to us,” the news portal quoted Satham as saying.
He further said that he is planning to submit all the records to the government and the Waqf board so that they can take action accordingly.
Satham reportedly became the caretaker of the dargah and the mosque after his father’s death in 2021. The residents are now upset with the demand over their land as his father had not asked them to pay rent. According to a report by Business Today, Satham’s late father lacked formal education and awareness and hence did not collect any rent from those living on the land. However, Satham now wanted to mend off the mistake by issuing a notice intending to collect rent from the residents.
The Indian Today reports that it had accessed the notices issued by Satham which claimed that a man named Balaji encroached on Waqf land registered under survey number 362. Satham accused Balaji of constructing a house and a shop on the property, which, as per Waqf records belong to the mosque. Satham has reportedly asked the residents to seek permission, pay ground rent and comply with Waqf laws, triggering fear of displacement and loss of livelihoods among the families in the village.
Read Also: Munambam Dispute, Waqf Bill And BJP’s Fawning Over Christian Community
Notably, the villagers who face the threat of eviction reportedly depend on agriculture for their survival. The families have claimed that they lived for at least four generations in the area and have all the government-issued documents. After getting the notices, Hindu Munnani leader Mahesh led a villagers’ protest march at the Collector’s office, demanding immediate action from the district administration.
Mahesh has demanded the district administration to issue land ownership documents to the residents to protect their rights and livelihoods.
It is reported that the Vellore District Collector has formally advised the residents to not pay rent for now. However, Satham has said that he will send two more notices to the residents if there are no responses, and then the matter will be taken to the High Court.
