Recently, it has come to light that the Waqf Board has claimed atleast 53 ASI monuments in Karnataka. This includes Gol Gumbaz, Ibrahim Rauza, Bara Kaman in Vijayapura, forts at Kalaburagi and Bidar etc. Reportedly, the Waqf Board had already declared 43 of these sites in Vijayapura as waqf property in 2005.
According to Deccan Herald’s RTI query response, the Waqf Board had declared 43 sites as Waqf properties by taking advantage of the ROR/PR cards. The RTI response from the central government stated, “While ASI is the holder of the land/monument, the encumbrance is the Waqf authority. This has been done without consulting ASI.” As per documents, the health and family welfare department Principal Secretary Mohammad Mohsin had done this. He was at that time both the deputy commissioner and the Chairman of the Waqf Board, Vijayapura.
While Mr. Mohsin said that he doesn’t remember the exact count of the monuments declared as waqf, he emphasized that he did this according to the gazette notification issued by the revenue department. He said that he had considered the documentary evidences presented by the parties.
However, it was the then British government which had notified most of these monuments as monuments of national importance on November 12, 1914.
ASI vs Waqf
According to the ASI it is the “Sole Owner” responsible for maintenance, conservation and renovation of these properties. The official gave reference of the AMASR Act of 1958 and said that once an ASI property is always an ASI property. This is because there is no provision to denotify them.
Meanwhile, besides the Masjid-i-Ala in Srirangapatna, the Waqf board has claimed six sites in the Hampi circle and four in the Bengaluru circle of the ASI. DH sources in ASI claimed that “third parties” have encroached upon, defaced, or unscientifically repaired almost all of these 43 monuments. Furthermore, they have converted the Mulla and the Yakub Dabuli’s mosque into madrasas.
“Monuments are the living examples of our history. Monuments can be renovated/conserved in the prescribed manner only by ASI. However, the 43 monuments in Vijayapura are being defaced and are being repaired with plaster and cement. Fans, air conditioners, fluorescent lights and toilets are being added to the monuments. Shopkeepers have taken over certain properties. This is adversely impacting the flow of tourists to these monuments,” an officer said to DH.
The ASI officials further claimed that despite conducting a joint survey in 2012, neither the Waqf Board nor the Vijayapura DC office have provided the ASI with any legitimate documentation, proving that these monuments belonged to Waqf. The senior ASI official in Karnataka reiterated, that the ownership of these sites cannot be altered, changed or added under the provisions of the AMASR provisions.
The Ministry of culture has issued directives to the Karnataka government, asking them to remove the unauthorised encroachment and renovations. However, the local authorities and the waqf board have not presented any conclusive documentation to resolve the dispute.