50% of Waqf land is encroached: State

1,088 cases filed under section 54 of Waqf Act, only 21 orders executed, 250 cases under review

- Surendra Gangan

MUMBAI: As the controversy over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, continues to rage, surprising details have surfaced about Waqf land in Maharashtra. According to figures with the Maharashtra State Board of Waqf (MSBW), around half the Waqf land in the state is encroached – a total 23,566 properties on 92,247 acres. The extent of encroachment is 60% in Marathwada, where the number of Waqf properties is highest, 15,877 properties on 57,133 acres, according to board.

While Waqf properties refer to personal property donated by Muslims for religious or charitable purposes, the bill seeks to introduce sweeping changes to the management of these properties, increasing state control through aspects such as financial management and audits.

The BJP-led Maharashtra government expects the Waqf (Amendment) Bill to enable it to manage these land parcels, and has issued a tender to initiate a survey of these properties using Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping.