Guttala Begumpet residents demand justice in land conflict linked to Aurangzeb’s era
Begumpet: Residents of Pallavi Enclave in Guttala Begumpet, Serilingampally, are calling for intervention from Chevella MP Konda Visweswara Reddy in a protracted land ownership dispute that dates back to the time of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. More than 300 residents who purchased their plots in 1987 are caught in a legal battle against the Telangana Waqf Board, which claims the land was gifted to them by Aurangzeb.
MP K Visweswara Reddy took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express the irony of the situation. In his post, he stated, “Aurangzeb invades Guttala Begumpet, Hyderabad. This is tragic & hilarious at the same time. In 1987, hundreds of people bought plots on this land. In 1988, the Waqf Board declared it Waqf land, citing an oral gift from Aurangzeb 400 years ago as proof. They claim he grazed his horses there. This is not a joke; it’s the evidence presented in court. Under current laws pertaining to Waqf, this is deemed sufficient. Hilarious & tragic. These are the laws enacted by the then Congress Government.”
Aurangazeb invades Guttala Begumpet, Hyderabad.
This is tragic & hilarious at the same time.
In 1987, more than 100s people bought plots in this piece of land in Guttala Begumpet.
In 1988 Waqf issued a notification declaring it Waqf land.Matter went to courts. The courts… pic.twitter.com/dUVfO0AYai
— Konda Vishweshwar Reddy (@KVishReddy) September 19, 2024
Residents have compared their situation to living under the rule of Aurangzeb as they continue to deal with a dispute that has lasted for over 30 years. They claim to have conducted comprehensive checks of revenue and legal records before buying their plots, only to have their ownership challenged by the Waqf Board.
Despite using their life savings to build homes, residents feel that their rights are stuck in ongoing legal disputes. They have not only contacted MP Reddy but have also asked for a meeting with the Joint Parliament Committee on the Waqf (Amendment Bill) 2024, in the hopes of bringing their case to the national level.
The conflict originated from claims that Aurangzeb had donated the land for the maintenance of the Alamgiri Masjid Idgah and a graveyard.
The Waqf Board asserts that Mirza Khazib Saheb was recorded as the landowner in revenue records between 1958 and 1960. However, these records were allegedly altered to change the name to D’Costa without due process. Although the courts have asked the Waqf Board for concrete evidence, the Board insists that the oral gift from Aurangzeb suffices under the law.
The court documents highlight that the Waqf Board has failed to provide written evidence of the alleged gift. In one case, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate noted that there was only a dilapidated mosque on the disputed land. Despite multiple opportunities given to the Waqf Board to produce documents supporting their claim, they have not done so. Legal precedent, such as the ruling in Dev Raj v. Teja Singh by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, indicates that a notification from the Waqf Board alone cannot establish ownership without proper documentation of the land’s dedication to the Waqf.
