Uttar Pradesh Waqf Land Reclaimed Amid Controversial Amendments, Supreme Court Hearings, and Rising Communal Tensions

The Uttar Pradesh government has registered 58 acres of Waqf land in Kaushambi district as government property, reclaiming it under the recently amended Waqf Act 2025. Out of nearly 99 hectares registered under the Waqf Board in the district, 93 bighas (about 58 acres) have been transferred to government records. Officials indicated further reclamations will follow after verification. The new law grants district magistrates expanded powers over Waqf properties, including dispute resolution and deregistration.

The amendments have sparked widespread opposition from Muslim groups and political parties, leading to protests and multiple petitions filed in the Supreme Court challenging the legislation. During hearings, the Supreme Court proposed an interim order to protect court-recognized Waqf properties from being deregistered during proceedings and barred the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf boards until further notice. The government assured the court it would comply with these conditions until the next hearing scheduled for May 5. The controversial bill passed both houses of Parliament despite strong resistance and has led to violent clashes, including at least three deaths in West Bengal. Neighboring Bangladesh condemned attacks on Muslims in India, which India dismissed as unwarranted interference.

Meanwhile, in Chhattisgarh, the State Waqf Board has issued notices to over 400 individuals for illegally occupying or failing to pay rent on Waqf properties valued at over 500 crore rupees. The board is working with local authorities to cancel fraudulent registrations and recover properties, emphasizing that Waqf assets cannot be sold or permanently leased.

Adding to communal tensions, a Kerala All India Radio producer, KR Indira, sparked outrage by posting an Islamophobic message urging Hindus to take up arms against Muslims. Despite calls for action, police have yet to respond, raising concerns about enforcement against hate speech. Indira has a history of inflammatory remarks and was previously booked for promoting enmity between religious groups.

These developments highlight ongoing conflicts over religious endowments, governance, and rising communal polarization in India.