A major political controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh following the presentation of a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report in the state Assembly that flagged widespread irregularities in the registration of government land as Waqf property. The audit found that between 2018 and 2023, government land valued at approximately Rs 77 crore across 20 districts was recorded as Waqf property, allegedly bypassing established procedures and triggering sharp political reactions and official inquiries.
According to the report, auditors examined 81 properties during the review period and found that 33 of them — about 41 per cent — were actually government-owned land. These parcels reportedly included areas occupied by schools, police stations, forest land and even properties mortgaged to banks. Despite being recorded in revenue documents as state-owned land designated for public use, the properties were entered into the Auqaf Register as Waqf assets. The CAG criticised what it described as a “lax attitude” among district administrations and raised concerns about the Waqf Board’s verification process before approving registrations.
One prominent case highlighted in the report involves land in Sanjay Nagar, Bhopal, measuring 19.80 square metres at Lendia Talab. The land had been leased by the state government in 1994 for 30 years with clear conditions that ownership would remain with the government, transfer would not be permitted, and usage would be limited to residential purposes. Despite these restrictions, an application was filed in 2021 to register the property as Waqf after the lessee allegedly donated it for religious use. The Waqf Board approved the registration in April 2022 under the Waqf Act, which the CAG described as an irregular registration of inalienable government land. The audit recommended that the land be reclaimed and responsibility fixed on officials involved.
Another contentious example cited in the report concerns a 3,600-square-metre plot in Misrod, Bhopal, registered as Waqf property in 2022 based on claims that it had historically functioned as a graveyard. The site currently houses a government higher secondary school and a police station. Objections were reportedly raised by local authorities and residents, and even an internal inquiry failed to conclusively establish the land’s status as a burial ground. The CAG noted that the Waqf Board finalised the registration without consulting the Revenue Department.
Additional disputed cases identified by the audit include forest land in Vidisha district, a cemetery site in Sehore, and land in Dhar where religious structures and a madrasa have been constructed. Following the report, Revenue Minister Karan Singh Verma announced that district collectors had been instructed to conduct detailed investigations, warning that encroachment on government land would not be tolerated and that strict action would be taken against officials found responsible.
The Waqf Board rejected allegations of wrongdoing, with its chairman stating that the board had no intention of claiming land unlawfully and would review the audit findings before presenting its response. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress accused the ruling BJP government of administrative failure, questioning how such discrepancies could occur on such a scale during its tenure.
The controversy has intensified political tensions in the state and raised broader concerns about land record management, institutional oversight and accountability in property registration processes. As investigations proceed, the key issues remain whether responsibility will be fixed and whether disputed lands will be restored to government control.
