Board claims ownership of Chandagalu Government School, Sri Chikkamma Chikkadevi Temple in Mahadevapura

Mandya: In a continuation of the ongoing dispute involving the Waqf Board in the State, a new controversy has emerged in Mandya.

The Waqf Board has claimed ownership of lands belonging to a Government school in Chandagalu and the Sri Chikkamma Chikkadevi Temple in Mahadevapura, both located in Srirangapatna Taluk.

The Waqf Board’s assertion has sparked anger among villagers, who have criticised the district administration and the State Government for allowing this situation to unfold. The residents of Mahadevapura were shocked to  discover discrepancies in the Temple’s documents.

Controlling Temple land

According to the villagers, the land associated with the Temple has been under their ownership for decades, and the Sri Chikkamma Chikkadevi Temple was constructed with their collective efforts.

However, recent documents indicate a shift, with the Waqf Board now claiming ownership of the Temple and the six-gunta land designated under Survey No. 74.

“The land has been declared Waqf property under the instructions of the Assistant Commissioner,” the villagers stated. “Our village does not have a predominant Muslim population, and we have not submitted any requests to officials to designate the Temple and its land as Waqf property.”

Villagers have voiced concerns regarding the designation of farmer lands as Waqf Board properties. They are urging authorities to rectify the official documents to restore the land’s classification as Temple property and are calling for action against responsible officials.

The community has threatened to organise a protest against the District Administration if the issue is not  resolved promptly.

30-gunta school property

In a related development, residents of Chandagalu expressed their dismay over a 30-gunta tract of land, designated under Survey No. 215, belonging to the Government School being classified as Waqf property.

Villagers are demanding the abolition of the Waqf Board, accusing it of attempting to seize various properties for land grabbing purposes.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Agriculture and Mandya District Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy commented that the situation is being politicized unnecessarily. He stated that matters concerning the Waqf Board’s claims would be addressed as people submit applications along with the relevant documentation.