PATNA, BIHAR – In a contentious move that has stirred significant unrest, the Bihar Sunni Waqf Board has laid claim to an entire village in Bihar, asserting ownership over the land of Govindpur, a village near Patna where approximately 95% of the residents are Hindus. The Board issued notices to seven villagers, instructing them to vacate their properties within 30 days, sparking a legal and communal debate.
The claim came to light when villagers, who possess land deeds dating back to 1910, were served eviction notices. This action follows a pattern observed in Tamil Nadu, where the Waqf Board similarly claimed ownership of an entire village, highlighting what some see as an expanding assertion of property rights by Waqf Boards across India.
Reacting to the notice, the affected villagers approached the Patna High Court, which has provided interim relief by acknowledging that the land records since 1910 are in the name of the villagers’ descendants. This judicial intervention has temporarily halted any immediate displacement but has not resolved the underlying ownership dispute.
The issue has ignited a broader discussion on the powers and reach of the Waqf Board, especially after the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill-2024 by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. During the bill’s introduction, Rijiju expressed concern over how properties were being declared as Waqf assets, questioning the extensive powers given to Waqf Boards in 2013 under the previous government.
Social media and public forums have been abuzz with reactions, with many questioning the validity of such claims by the Waqf Board and others arguing for the rights of property owners against what they perceive as overreach. Critics argue that this could set a precedent for similar claims across India, potentially leading to widespread property disputes.
The local administration has yet to comment officially on the ongoing situation, but the case has undoubtedly put a spotlight on the Waqf Act and its implications for property rights in India. Meanwhile, residents of Govindpur remain in a state of anxiety, hopeful that the legal system will uphold their rights to the land they’ve inhabited for generations.
As this story develops, it raises critical questions about property rights, the legal framework governing Waqf properties, and the balance between communal harmony and legal property claims in India.
