BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
B. PUGALENDHI, J.
Ilayangudi Muslim Educational Association, Represented by its Secretary, Sivagangai District - Appellant
Versus
The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep.by its Secretary to Government, Chennai & Ors. - Respondents
W.P(MD). Nos. 2077 & 2079 of 2020
Decided On : 16-10-2023
Wakf Properties - Property Declaration - Section 4, Section 5 of Wakf Act, 1995 - The court discussed the provisions under Section 4 and Section 5 of the Wakf Act, 1995, and highlighted the importance of conducting a preliminary enquiry and publishing the list of wakfs before declaring a property as wakf. The court emphasized that failure to comply with these statutory obligations can lead to the invalidity of the notification declaring the property as wakf.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner, Ilayangudi Muslim Educational Association, sought a declaration to declare certain lands as their property, which were declared as wakf properties by a Gazette Notification in 1959. The petitioner had acquired the lands through a registered deed of Cowle and had been running an Educational Institution on the property since 1947. The Government's declaration of the lands as wakf properties was challenged by the petitioner.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the procedures contemplated under Sections 4 and 5 of the Wakf Act, 1995, for declaring the property as wakf property had not been complied with. It held that failure to conduct the necessary preliminary enquiry and publish the list of wakfs rendered the Gazette Notification invalid. As a result, the court set aside the Gazette Notification and declared the lands as the properties of the petitioner.
Issues: The main issue revolved around the validity of the Gazette Notification declaring the lands as wakf properties and the compliance with statutory obligations under the Wakf Act, 1995.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the non-compliance with the statutory obligations under the Wakf Act, 1995, specifically the failure to conduct a preliminary enquiry and publish the list of wakfs before declaring the property as wakf. The court emphasized the importance of adhering to these procedures for the validity of such declarations.
Final Decision: The court allowed the Writ Petitions, set aside the Gazette Notification, and declared the lands as the properties of the petitioner.
JUDGMENT
(Prayer in W.P(MD).No.2077 of 2019 : Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Declaration, to declare that the land measuring an extent of 9.96 acres measuring an extent of 9.96 acres comprised in Survey No.59/1A and 4.45 acres comprised in Survey No.60/1B situated at South Illayangudi Village, Sivagangai District, as the property of the petitioner.
In W.P(MD).No.2079 of 2019 : Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records of the first respondent having ref.Supplement to Part II, The Fort St.George Gazette-16B, dated 22.04.1959 and quash the same insofar as the petitioner's land measuring an extent of 9.96 acres comprised in Survey No.59/1A and 4.45 acres comprised in Survey No.60/1B situated at South Illayangudi Village, Sivagangai District.)
Common Order:
1. These Writ Petitions are filed by Ilayangudi Muslim Educational Association as against the Gazette Notification dated 22.04.1959 and for a declaration to declare the lands in Survey No.59/1A measuring an extent of 9.96 acres and Survey No.60/1B measuring an extent of 4.45 acres situated at South Illayangudi Village, Sivagangai District as the properties of the petitioner.
2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, by relying on a deed of Cowle executed by Sivaganga Samasthanam in favour of one K.M.N.Abdul Karim on 27.05.1947, submits that Dewan of Sivaganga Samasthanam on behalf of Zamindar of Sivaganga has executed a deed of Cowle on 27.05.1947 in favour of one K.M.N.Abdul Karim, son of Khalifa Nainamohammed, in respect of the lands in Survey No.59/1A measuring an extent of 9.96 acres and Survey No.60/1B measuring an extent of 4.45 acres for educational purpose. The conditions of the lease deed are extracted hereunder:
8. That the lands shall be used only for the Educational purpose set out in the petition of Janab.K.M.N.Abdul Karim, and for no other purpose.
9. That the School buildings shall be constructed and the School opened within a period of five years from the date of grant.
10. That in the event of any infringement of these conditions the Semasthanam shall be at liberty to resume the grant and take possession of the lands or in the alternative collect the market value of the lands prevailing at ---------------Abdul Karim, N.V.Vidyanathan Iyyer, 5.--------, the time of resumption and then confirm the grant.
3. The deed also states as follows:
The ryot shall enjoy the land permanently at his own will and pleasure by using the same, for the construction of a High School subject to the conditions referred to in paras 8, 9, 10 and 11.
4. The said Abdul Karim has established a School and has given the said lands to the petitioner Association by a registered Cowle dated 24.01.1952 bearing Document No.130/1952, which was duly registered in the Sub-Registrar Office, Ilyangudi. The petitioner Association has also created a Trust in the name of Ilyangudi Muslim Educational Association and applied for CBSE regularisation and is running a School in the said premises. Now, the petitioner has come to know about the Notification issued by the Wakf Board in the year 1959, in and by which, the said properties of this Association have been declared as Wakf properties and therefore, the petitioner has filed a writ petition in W.P(MD).No.2079 of 2020 challenging the Notification dated 22.04.1959 and prior to the said writ petition, the petitioner has filed the writ petition in W.P(MD).No.2077 of 2020 seeking a declaration to declare the lands in Survey No.59/1A measuring an extent of 9.96 acres and Survey No.60/1B measuring an extent of 4.45 acres situated at South Illayangudi Village, Sivagangai District as the properties of the petitioner.
5. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, by relying on the provisions under Section 4 of the Wakf
The impugned addendum notification was issued without proper enquiry, violated principles of natural justice, and lacked sufficient evidence to establish the subject lands as wakf properties.
The court ruled that proper inquiry and adherence to statutory procedures are essential for valid Waqf declarations, invalidating the notification in this case.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the dismissal of the Writ Petition challenging the Gazette Notification, with the court granting the petitioner liberty to raise objections before ....
Notifications claiming property as Waqf land are invalid without proper survey and notice to concerned parties, emphasizing due process under the Waqf Act.
The court ruled that the notification declaring lands as waqf property was invalid due to procedural lapses and lack of evidence, affirming the petitioners' ownership rights.
The jurisdiction for disputes concerning Wakf properties lies exclusively with the Wakf Tribunal, not civil courts, reinforcing the necessity for timely legal action under the WAKF ACT.
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