Indian court fines Shia Waqf Board amid allegations of sectarian bias
Indian court fines Shia Waqf Board amid allegations of sectarian bias
A recent ruling by the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench has fined the Central Shia Waqf Board in Uttar Pradesh 15,000 rupees for allegedly withholding information in a legal review concerning historic Shia religious properties.
The case centers on a 1934 waqf deed by Nawab Muhammad Hussain Khan, which included 17 shops, a religious congregation hall (Imambara), and a residential building. Following legal disputes after his death in 1952, a controversial ruling annulled the deed without clarifying the fate of the associated religious structures.
In 2015, the Shia Waqf Board attempted to safeguard the properties by appointing new caretakers. This triggered a series of conflicting court cases and rulings, which activists claim reflect growing institutional bias against India’s Shia minority. The recent high court decision accused the board of “suppressing facts” while reviewing the case, prompting criticism from legal experts and minority rights advocates.
They argue the court overlooked the complex historical and sectarian background and warn that the ruling undermines the Shia community’s ability to protect its religious heritage. Rights groups have called the decision a legal and institutional setback, urging India’s judiciary to uphold religious pluralism and ensure fair treatment of all faith communities in the country.
